Vancouver city councilors are calling for free WiFi to be installed in the Downtown Eastside so people without housing can access assistance.
Councilor Christine Boyle said she would bring the motion to council on Wednesday in hopes of better connecting the city’s most vulnerable residents with housing and other vital resources.
Darcy Knape, a resident of the DTES single-occupancy building, said not having a phone or internet access makes her feel like she’s “in the wilderness.”
“It’s like being stuck in the middle of nowhere. You can’t be part of humanity,” he says.
Knape added that even with the cheapest plan, you would lose your data within a day.
“If you have free internet, you can probably find affordable housing,” he said. “But I can’t because that’s not the case. There’s nothing I can do.”
Boyle said access to WiFi could allow more people to easily access telemedicine, nurse hotlines and social services.
“For people who are socially isolated or displaced, having access to the internet can help them connect with family and friends,” she added.
Currently, the City of Vancouver has more than 500 free WiFi areas, including the #VanWiFi network in public libraries and city buildings, but there is still a lack of connectivity in DTES.
DTES advocate Sarah Blythe agrees that people living in poverty often cannot access the services they need due to a lack of internet.
“It increases the poverty gap between people. Without the internet, you can’t apply for a job, you can’t apply for public housing,” Bryce said.
“Winter shelters are being advertised online. People didn’t know where they were.”
Boyle said access to free Wi-Fi not only benefits people living in poverty, but also other parts of the city.
“Tourists visiting the city can use this to find a place to eat or contact someone,” she said.
If the motion passes, city staff would have to report a schedule and budget plan by the end of 2024.
