"Connect 4 Life" is a compelling new initiative from the LGBT Technology Institute that aims to provide homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth in Washington, D.C. with mobile phones.
The intention of the project is not only to reconnect these youth to the world, but to understand the impact of mobile connectivity for at-risk youth. With LGBT youth being disproportionately affected by homelessness, the effects of "Connect 4 Life" could be far-reaching.
“There are more than 650,000 homeless LGBT youth in America, many with no reliable way to connect with services, support networks, supportive organizations, prospective employers, or medical care,” Allyson Robinson, director of the LGBT Technology Institute, said in a statement. “A growing body of research shows that having a mobile phone can help keep these young people safer and get them off the streets faster.”
"Connect 4 Life" will provide 25 homeless youth in the D.C. area with a mobile phone through Cricket Wireless. For more about the LGBT Technology Institute and the "Connect 4 Life" project head here.