Barriers to Care: Access to Charging Stations

Themes

Policies & protocols are not effective
Not meeting residents’ needs
Lack of follow-through
Phone & internet access

There are few community charging stations.
The library allows public charging, but only during certain hours.
Agencies want to communicate via cell phone, but rarely provide resources to support cell phone use.

We asked homeless people about the things that make it difficult for them to get help. They said often accessing resources requires online access but internet and charging stations are not always accessible which creates barriers. People offered ideas about what would help them.

Populations

Homeless
Reentering Citizens
Low Income Residents

What would help

24/7 stations

Charging stations in public areas where people gather

Access to generator-supported charging stations for when the power goes out

Stats & Stories

Charge Up Jackson

People with similar situations are not offered the same benefits

It costs less than $2 a year to charge a cell phone every day.

Over 97% of Americans have a cell phone. Over 85% have a smartphone.

Michigan is #4 on the list of states with the most power outages over the past 20 years.

Residents in Action (RiA) visited Detroit for hot spot learning. There were non-profits that built charging stations in designated high-risk neighborhoods. DTE Energy collaborated with these projects and even donated solar panels to cover the energy costs.