It looks like most of these people are making less than minimum wage. (feigned gasp!)

I'm glad they're making money somehow, but it does annoy me that laws are preventing them from pursuing a lot of other jobs.

Reading this story, I am a bit amazed that there are still quite a few people homeless after Hurricane Katrina, which happened in 2005.

A fellow staying in the same house as me ran across these guys and was highly skeptical of their operation. It's good to hear that it's actually a pretty cool story. :)

This seems like a really great project for SXSW. I hope the test is enough for them to bring it into other cities.

I'm 100% for helping homeless, especially in creative ways that empower them.

That said, you can get 5gb/mo of 3G/4G data access without contract at walmart for $30/mo (via a sim chip).

Then take your far more extensive savings and donate them directly to foodbanks, etc. instead of making homeless people beg.

How does one get 5gb/mo of 3G/4G data access without contract at walmart for $30/mo (via a sim chip)? Tethering a pay as you go?

Yes.

The Wal-Mart T-Mobile 5GB data / Unlimited Text pay-as-you-go plan (with a couple of voice minutes thrown in) is $30/mo. However, the contract does not technically allow tethering.

T-Mobile were the last major US carrier to institute a pay-extra-for-tethering policy (in late 2010), but it's definitely in effect now and they do use some cursory heuristics (data usage, basic traffic inspection) to detect tethering (and unauthorized "high-end" Android phones, as well).