Opinion: Homeless hotel diary: PCs for People in Denver saves my sanity

It would be easy to drive right past PCs for People, 6035 E. 38th Ave., Denver. The store offers PCs at low prices for low-income people.Photo byGoogle Street View

You will never believe it: I have no complaints this week about Fusion Studios, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless property where I live. This week's edition of Homeless Hotel Diary will not include a diatribe about the internet being out.

In fact, I want to give a huge compliment to my case manager, who had the idea to take me to PCs for People. PCs for People is a non-profit reseller of Microsoft refurbished computers. They also sell hot spots for a reduced price, with low monthly service.

Services offered to low-income people

There is a catch. You have to be on a government program, such as Medicaid or SNAP, to qualify. I qualified. I brought in a benefits letter for verification. As such, I bought a hotspot for $60 and pay $16 per month for unlimited data. I also bought a new computer -- a Dell -- for only $100. The computer has changed my life. The keys all work and none stick. I even have a backlit keyboard. It hasn't frozen up or crashed yet. My old computer crashed on the hour, and I had to reinstall Windows numerous times.

This computer stays connected to internet connections much longer than the last one did. However, the internet at Fusion improved markedly the day my computer died. It worked fine all morning. I've had almost no problems connecting to the building internet with this computer. It did go out about 1 a.m. (I am a night owl) and I switched to my new hotspot, which works great.

Apology to Coalition officials

It is obvious that my computer had problems. I bought a new computer about six weeks ago and it took it back because it stopped working properly. But it never operated as good as this one. That said, I sent some pretty harsh emails to Coalition brass during the past several months. I have fought with the internet here since the day I moved in more than four years ago. But about four months ago, changes were made that caused me to be unable to connect much of the time.

I can't begin to describe how an interruption in internet service affects my mental health. It drives me bonkers. To have a computer that operates seamlessly and a connection that doesn't let me down, I am on cloud nine and feel like a new man. I apologize for my angry emails to Coalition officials in light of just how screwed up my old computer really is. It definitely was part of the problem. That said, I had tenants tell me tonight they had trouble connecting to the internet, so it does still have problems. They were jealous of my hotspot.

The squeaky wheel does get the grease. Hopefully the internet at Fusion Studios at least works better than it did thanks to my relentless persitence. I know IT and maintenance worked on it several times. I am very grateful for their efforts. I hope for people in the building who don't have a hotspot or a new computer that the internet stays up and running. It's important and a basic utility.

I won't gush too much. Life in a homeless hotel doesn't stay quiet for long. But with the exception of one inebriated resident screaming in the hallway at 2 a.m. Sunday, it has been so quiet at Fusion this week you could hear a pin drop. It's almost eerie.

If you qualify for government assistance, you qualify for a great deal on computer and internet access at PCs for the People. Check it out.