Legal Aid Sues City Over Lack Of Internet Access For Homeless Students

Homeless child in front of an intake center for families in the Bronx.

Legal Aid says children who live in shelters haven’t been able to participate in remote learning since the pandemic started due to lack of WiFi. The non-profit is demanding the de Blasio administration install WiFi in shelters that serve homeless families with children by early January. That’s much earlier than the deadline the city has committed to, which is by next summer. The city has provided cell-enabled tablets, but reception is often spotty in shelters. A spokesman for the city’s Law Department says they’re providing tech assistance to students in shelters and are working on a longer-term plan.