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  Q1: THE ISSUE OF LAPTOPS: Does anyone have any contacts at Dell, Apple, Mac Authority, or Best Buy in Nashville? I'd like to see if they have a budget for helping out efforts like this. I think I have a PR contact at Dell... but that may be it. I think it's becoming clear that the future of blogging will be having a laptops that are perhaps 1. low cost, so they can easily be replaced if stolen, and 2. perhaps better systems for storing the computers. Perhaps a locker system across Nashville with more than one location so homeless and safely store high end equipment. Thoughts?? (2 pieces of advice)

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  by nathantbaker 

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  10.17.08 | 02:15 PM

  bondslave, thanks for the post.
  
  You are right. Libraries are a great resource for the homeless and often people forget about them when someone mentions a homeless person online or emailing.
  
  But libraries can be restrictive on blogging. Imagine being in college with no laptop. Many students do it by going to libraries, but they can't eat while at the computer, they don't have their software, they are restricted to specific hours, and they are restricted to walking to the nearest one, which may not be near.
  
  The idea is to help clear these obstacles for homeless bloggers. Some of the most prominent homeless bloggers (http://thehomelessguy.blogspot.com and http://norsehorseshometurf.blogspot.com for example) use laptops. I don't think it's by coincidence, and we hope to put laptops in the hands of more bloggers!

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  by bondslave 

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  10.17.08 | 01:51 PM

  Libraries?

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  Q2: I need help refining these ideas. Do you see any red flags? I'm not suggesting this will solve anything. I'm suggesting this will help, and we should try to make our world better. I would love your thoughts, especially if you are a homeless blogger! (28 pieces of advice)

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  by nathantbaker 

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  12.03.08 | 09:43 PM

  Thanks Steve! We are still alive and don't need funding to make it work =) http://clickhomeless.com

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  by stevepallotti 

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  10.21.08 | 01:15 PM

  Nathan , I voted for you last week , Do Not Give Up ! THANK YOU !Steve Pallotti

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  by stevepallotti 

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  10.21.08 | 01:14 PM

  Nathan , I voted for you last week , Do Not Give Up ! THANK YOU !Steve Pallotti

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  by blobberguy 

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  10.18.08 | 09:28 PM

  Many of the homeless in Nashville do alot if any of their online activity in public libraries. Perhaps partnering with them could help your cause.
  www.library.nashville.org/
  

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  by nathantbaker 

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  10.16.08 | 07:36 PM

  SuneetBhatt,
  
  Here are some homeless bloggers:
  
  http://thehomelessguy.blogspot.com, Kevin, Nashville
  http://norsehorseshometurf.blogspot.com, Jamie, Vermont
  http://homelesstales.com, Matt, UK
  http://jamiesbigvoice.blogspot.com , Jamie, UK
  
  There are not many in Nashville--Kevin is the most prominent--but this is all the more reason to create opportunities for homeless to blog in my community. I'm also learning the focus of the network may be more far reaching, as a hub for all homeless bloggers to be connected with needed resources, such as web design help and optimization.
  
  Sites with a decent lists of homeless links:
  http://homelessmanspeaks.com
  http://findsteve.blogspot.com
  
  Also, I must admit, I decided to pursue this idea on Saturday. It has not been a week. I am relying on sound guidance and diverse opinion to help me sharpen these ideas.
  
  Here is a draft of where the money could go:
  
  $5,000 invested in high interest saving fund. Money would be added to the fund from grants we apply …morefor.
  $2,500 laptops and blogging equipment
  $2,500 gift cards
  
  The idea of the money is a means to greater exposure and validation of the idea from the community. For instance, the goal would be to spend as little as possible and to rely on volunteer hours and sponsorships from companies that we would in turn advertise for on the home page of a clickhomeless.com. The site could feature an aggregation of blog post from the homeless blogging community, news regarding homeless policy, and of course how to get involved and be supported by Click Homeless.
  
  I hope this helps clarifies things. Thanks for the feedback. Please keep it coming and let me know what else I can clarify.

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  by nathantbaker 

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  10.16.08 | 07:31 PM

  Jennifer,
  
  Thanks for the comments! It's much appreciated. I think you are on the right track as far pursuing smaller and lower-cost laptops.
  
  The issues of homelessness are complex, and there is not a one-angle approach to help alleviate negative effects of homelessness. The goal of this network would be to primarily advance the education piece that is vital in informing the public on homeless issues, so we are better informed about to more smartly push or specific policies and so we are better equipped to support homeless in our communities.

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  by SuneetBhatt 

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  10.16.08 | 01:23 PM

  I'm intrigued by your post and I voted for it because it sounds like it has potential, especially from an awareness standpoint. I think you can help folks like me by clarifying some of the points (and I'm sure that will help your already strong voting population). Biggest questions are around clarifying the idea. I'm not sure I understand how "homeless blogging" works, and I definitely was not aware that it was so pervasive. A URL link to a few sites with more background may help you save space on your post while also providing folks with a place to go for more information. I'd also like to know more about how you'd use the $10k, perhaps specifically. StayTrue, which is a Sprint 2 winner does a really good job of breaking down their costs. Something like that would surely help. Good luck!

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  by w0lfh0und 

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  10.16.08 | 11:06 AM

  @thejenn, speaking from personal experience, I would have found this extremely useful. I now have my own site reasonably well established and I find as a result I am now being offered paid writing jobs for other sites. I have had to learn the skills and processes alone. I realize that not everyone may be able to succeed as a writer but this idea incorporates applied teaching methods and whether individuals succeed as bloggers or not, the IT skills alone they will learn along the way must be highly beneficial in improving their likelihood of securing other employment.

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  by thejenn 

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  10.16.08 | 09:09 AM

  I'm honestly a little confused on this one. I mean I get the point of empowerment, but this is one of those areas where I can't help but think these same funds would do so much better if used to train the homeless for jobs that could get them off the streets.
  
  That said, when it comes to laptops, why not focus on things like the EeePC instead of Dell or Gateway or whatever? EeePCs start as low as $300, can have a 6 hour battery, weigh less than 2 pounds and are ultra portable. Seems like it would be a better fit for your audience than a larger, clunkier system.
  
  

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  by thejenn 

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  10.16.08 | 09:08 AM

  I'm honestly a little confused on this one. I mean I get the point of empowerment, but this is one of those areas where I can't help but think these same funds would do so much better if used to train the homeless for jobs that could get them off the streets.
  
  That said, when it comes to laptops, why not focus on things like the EeePC instead of Dell or Gateway or whatever? EeePCs start as low as $300, can have a 6 hour battery, weigh less than 2 pounds and are ultra portable. Seems like it would be a better fit for your audience than a larger, clunkier system.
  
  

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  by thejenn 

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  10.16.08 | 09:08 AM

  I'm honestly a little confused on this one. I mean I get the point of empowerment, but this is one of those areas where I can't help but think these same funds would do so much better if used to train the homeless for jobs that could get them off the streets.
  
  That said, when it comes to laptops, why not focus on things like the EeePC instead of Dell or Gateway or whatever? EeePCs start as low as $300, can have a 6 hour battery, weigh less than 2 pounds and are ultra portable. Seems like it would be a better fit for your audience than a larger, clunkier system.
  
  

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  by thejenn 

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  10.16.08 | 09:08 AM

  I'm honestly a little confused on this one. I mean I get the point of empowerment, but this is one of those areas where I can't help but think these same funds would do so much better if used to train the homeless for jobs that could get them off the streets.
  
  That said, when it comes to laptops, why not focus on things like the EeePC instead of Dell or Gateway or whatever? EeePCs start as low as $300, can have a 6 hour battery, weigh less than 2 pounds and are ultra portable. Seems like it would be a better fit for your audience than a larger, clunkier system.
  
  

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  by thejenn 

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  10.16.08 | 09:08 AM

  I'm honestly a little confused on this one. I mean I get the point of empowerment, but this is one of those areas where I can't help but think these same funds would do so much better if used to train the homeless for jobs that could get them off the streets.
  
  That said, when it comes to laptops, why not focus on things like the EeePC instead of Dell or Gateway or whatever? EeePCs start as low as $300, can have a 6 hour battery, weigh less than 2 pounds and are ultra portable. Seems like it would be a better fit for your audience than a larger, clunkier system.
  
  

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  by thejenn 

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  10.16.08 | 09:08 AM

  I'm honestly a little confused on this one. I mean I get the point of empowerment, but this is one of those areas where I can't help but think these same funds would do so much better if used to train the homeless for jobs that could get them off the streets.
  
  That said, when it comes to laptops, why not focus on things like the EeePC instead of Dell or Gateway or whatever? EeePCs start as low as $300, can have a 6 hour battery, weigh less than 2 pounds and are ultra portable. Seems like it would be a better fit for your audience than a larger, clunkier system.
  
  

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  by thejenn 

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  10.16.08 | 09:08 AM

  I'm honestly a little confused on this one. I mean I get the point of empowerment, but this is one of those areas where I can't help but think these same funds would do so much better if used to train the homeless for jobs that could get them off the streets.
  
  That said, when it comes to laptops, why not focus on things like the EeePC instead of Dell or Gateway or whatever? EeePCs start as low as $300, can have a 6 hour battery, weigh less than 2 pounds and are ultra portable. Seems like it would be a better fit for your audience than a larger, clunkier system.
  
  

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  by thejenn 

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  10.16.08 | 09:08 AM

  I'm honestly a little confused on this one. I mean I get the point of empowerment, but this is one of those areas where I can't help but think these same funds would do so much better if used to train the homeless for jobs that could get them off the streets.
  
  That said, when it comes to laptops, why not focus on things like the EeePC instead of Dell or Gateway or whatever? EeePCs start as low as $300, can have a 6 hour battery, weigh less than 2 pounds and are ultra portable. Seems like it would be a better fit for your audience than a larger, clunkier system.
  
  

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  by thejenn 

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  10.16.08 | 09:08 AM

  I'm honestly a little confused on this one. I mean I get the point of empowerment, but this is one of those areas where I can't help but think these same funds would do so much better if used to train the homeless for jobs that could get them off the streets.
  
  That said, when it comes to laptops, why not focus on things like the EeePC instead of Dell or Gateway or whatever? EeePCs start as low as $300, can have a 6 hour battery, weigh less than 2 pounds and are ultra portable. Seems like it would be a better fit for your audience than a larger, clunkier system.
  
  

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  by thejenn 

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  10.16.08 | 08:51 AM

  I'm honestly a little confused on this one. I mean I get the point of empowerment, but this is one of those areas where I can't help but think these same funds would do so much better if used to train the homeless for jobs that could get them off the streets.
  
  That said, when it comes to laptops, why not focus on things like the EeePC instead of Dell or Gateway or whatever? EeePCs start as low as $300, can have a 6 hour battery, weigh less than 2 pounds and are ultra portable. Seems like it would be a better fit for your audience than a larger, clunkier system.
  
  

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  by thejenn 

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  10.16.08 | 08:44 AM

  I'm honestly a little confused on this one. I mean I get the point of empowerment, but this is one of those areas where I can't help but think these same funds would do so much better if used to train the homeless for jobs that could get them off the streets.
  
  That said, when it comes to laptops, why not focus on things like the EeePC instead of Dell or Gateway or whatever? EeePCs start as low as $300, can have a 6 hour battery, weigh less than 2 pounds and are ultra portable. Seems like it would be a better fit for your audience than a larger, clunkier system.
  
  

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  by thejenn 

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  10.16.08 | 08:39 AM

  I'm honestly a little confused on this one. I mean I get the point of empowerment, but this is one of those areas where I can't help but think these same funds would do so much better if used to train the homeless for jobs that could get them off the streets.
  
  That said, when it comes to laptops, why not focus on things like the EeePC instead of Dell or Gateway or whatever? EeePCs start as low as $300, can have a 6 hour battery, weigh less than 2 pounds and are ultra portable. Seems like it would be a better fit for your audience than a larger, clunkier system.
  
  

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  by nathantbaker 

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  10.13.08 | 11:53 PM

  DrinkMonsters, the used laptop may be a good idea. Laptop become old so fast though. It seems like a lot of the people giving their laptop away may have held on to it for too long in the first place. I'm hoping sponsorships may be the right answer for there.
  
  There would have to be some kind of trust system built, which would only come through relationship. I would need help with designing a system that rewarded effort somehow. This would take a lot of discernment that I alone don't have. Perhaps a group of homeless and non-homeless would be better suited to awarding yearly grants of some kind that gave access or a full computer. Maybe if at the end of the year commitment, they are guaranteed to keep the computer.
  
  I think their may be some real potential partnerships with Nashville Contributor as they may be able to spot individuals who love to write!
  
  Wow, I didn't know I had so many thoughts in me at the moment!

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  by DrinkMonsters 

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  10.13.08 | 09:58 AM

  I completely understand the animosity that underlies the sharing, more like not sharing of a computer. There were times when I played longer on my family PC just because I didn't want to share. This is an example of that attitude that team-mentality would work to improve.
  
  Very valid, sharing in the online community at the same time is a much better way to connect for this kind of idea. Public libraries are costless and restricted to informational or networking domains already. It's vital to always use that avenue. Maybe I see the laptop share as a pay it forward system passed randomly through veins in an already established community. Maybe there is a laptop for a day drawing at the local soup kitchen, or better yet rewarded to s/he who has volunteered the most, or who insights ideas that should be shared. The underlying theme is a connection to others in the local community.
  
  That being said the logistics are hard. Maybe it depends on donated laptops that you're not afraid to lose track of, since there is the posibility of someone selling it. Flood the com…moremunity with older laptops? Create a computer lab at a soup kitchen? ****, put a LANed game on the system, games are good for the mind.

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  10.12.08 | 05:52 PM

  willrobinsoniii, thanks for the lead! It's sounds like they would have some expertise that could help, especially in the area of wifi policies.
  
  I'm also trying to get advice from local Nashville homeless organizations like http://www.homelesspower.org and http://nashvillecontributor.org. Maybe I don't need to reinvent the wheel if some infrastructure is already in place. Thanks for the direction!

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  10.12.08 | 01:16 PM

  You should contact the folks at www.projecthome.org and run your idea past them. They are a very progressive homeless advocacy organization that might be able to give you some excellent advice and suggestions. They even started an internet cafe in the Philadelphia Free Library's main branch (where a lot of the City's homeless spend their days). There might be some receptive minds there. Good luck.

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  10.12.08 | 12:12 PM

  DrinkMonsters, thanks for the thoughts!! It seems like many homeless will blog from public libraries, but a laptop would give new freedom and opportunity for blogging. I think you are right. It would be great to build create a partnership of some give to have laptops donated. I think one key would be to have extra laptops to replace old and stolen ones.
  
  Sharing the laptops sounds like a good idea on the surface. I wonder if the real sharing will be going on via the conversations online. For instance, I don't want to share my laptop, because I want to constantly be part of the conversation.
  
  When I shared the computer with my brother when we were little and shared gaming time, there was often animosity. But not when we share in a online game like online scrabble, everyone wins!! I don't know, just my initial reaction. How do you envisioning the sharing to work?

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  by DrinkMonsters 

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  10.12.08 | 10:34 AM

  I think the concerns of laptop safety are interesting. Could there possibly be a share-a-laptop program to encourage not only live blogging but team mentality? One reason we steal is the limited resources idea, which can only be stronger in a homeless environment. If they don't have mobile devices, the Internet card idea won't come to full fruition: inside with food, but without the means to blog. I don't have a link, but google the $100 laptop. With just a couple of these on a laptop-sharing program, these blogs will grow.

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  by nathantbaker 

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  10.11.08 | 03:44 AM

  Thanks Andy! Thanks for the invite! Blog posts from soup kitchens would introduce the issue of laptops. Some homeless have them, but there is always the chance that a laptop will be stolen on the street, if you have to leave it outside or in an unsecured locker; Some shelters don't have adequate storage or security.
  
  But I think one good point you bring up is that maybe I need to reach out more for the opinion of homeless bloggers, and perhaps even non-blogging homeless to get their thoughts.
  
  Thanks for helping think through this!!

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  by andyt 

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  10.11.08 | 02:54 AM

  Interesting idea! You did a great presentation at Nashville Startup Weekend, might I add!
  
  I don't know how this would be received, but perhaps you can allow the homeless to do blog posts at events where they gather -- soup kitchens, etc.

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