The City of New Westminster wants to help put technology in the hands of folks in need.
On May 11, council approved a recommendation directing staff to partner with Douglas College and the Lower Mainland Purpose Society on a COVID-19 social inclusion initiative. The initiative includes providing support in sourcing electronic devices, exploring the establishment of Wi-Fi hot spots in the community, and reaching out to internet providers about possible collaboration and partnership.
“It is recognized that information and resources from all levels of governments and organizations are increasingly being made available online,” said a report to council. “This includes applying for assistance, benefits and/or supports. As such, at-risk and vulnerable populations are being disproportionately impacted, particularly given that civic facilities and many businesses have closed, this making access to Wi-Fi difficult, if not impossible, for many of those who are unsheltered or preciously housed.”
The city’s role would include helping to source laptops, smart phones and tablets, though a marketing campaign. The city’s information technology division would reach out to internet providers about the possibility of creating Wi-Fi hot spots.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city created several task forces, including one that deals with the needs of vulnerable and at-risk populations and another that addresses issues faced by seniors and people with disabilities.
In a report to council, the at-risk and vulnerable population’s task force noted that not everyone has access to computers, smart phones or tablets or the internet. Faith and nonprofit task force members have expressed the need to be able to stay informed on the latest relevant COVID-19 information, and to ensure their clients and guests can access information related to resources and services they may need.
The report outlined a number of resources that the city has posted on its website to assist community members, including tenants, youth and people in need. This includes: a trusted links and resources document that highlights key federal, provincial, regional and municipal information sources; a summary of financial supports providing access to housing supports, income supplements and tax benefits; and a food resource calendar that features all of the food-security programs offered in New Westminster – including some programs launched in response to the pandemic.
Coun. Nadine Nakagawa said she is “quite keen” on the provision of Wi-Fi hot spots, noting it’s something that’s been done in other jurisdictions. She questioned if any concerns have been raised from a civil liberties perceptive about the tracking of people who are homeless.
“There have been issues about this previously, and I want to make sure that we are not sort of incidentally, in the way that they are gathering data, participating in this program, creating a problematic incident,” she said. “We think about the response but forget about the civil liberties. I think we have to keep that in mind. I want to make sure staff are considering that.”
John Stark, the city’s supervisor of community planning, said that’s a concern any time a program identifies or targets a specific population.
“The purpose of this program was in response to a need. Given the fact that civic facilities are closed, access is really limited. Also, business access is really limited,” he said. “We have a population where more and more information is being put online. Being able to apply or even to receive services, such as counselling, is also available online. So really, this is a response to that need.”
Staff will talk to Douglas College about confidentiality and ensure all information remains private.
“As a city, it’s very important that we try and protect those individual liberties and also not try to profile the individuals that we are trying to assist,” Stark said.
