The PATH program offers access to phones and computers to access social services.
Timberland Library
Mon-Sat 9am-6pm
Olympia branch 313 8th Avenue SE Olympia, WA 98501, (360)-352-0595
Tumwater branch 7023 New Market St SW, Tumwater, WA 98501, (360) 943-7790
Lacey branch 500 College St SE, Lacey, WA 98503, (360) 491-3860
All branches of the Timberland Library offer free access to computers. There is also a telephone in the back hallway that is available to the public.
Olympia Union Gospel Mission
413 Franklin St NE
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 709-9725
Olympia Union Gospel Mission has a phone available for public use.
Free Cell Phones
Assurance Wireless
Assurance Wireless is a federal Lifeline Assistance program. Lifeline is a government assistance program. The Assurance Wireless offer provides eligible low-income customers free monthly data, unlimited texting, and free monthly minutes. Plus a free phone.
Qualifications:
Enrollment is available to individuals who qualify based on federal or state-specific eligibility criteria. You may qualify if you are on certain public assistance programs, like Medicaid or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
You can also qualify based on your household income. If you are unemployed, you can use your Unemployment Benefit Letter as proof of eligibility until 6/30/22.
Proof of Eligibility:
You must provide proof of program participation or proof of income.
One Account per Household:
The Lifeline Assistance program is available for only one wireless or wireline account per household. Separate households that live at the same address are eligible, including residents of homeless shelters and nursing homes. Residents with temporary addresses are also eligible.
DSHS public disclosures department - aka proof of services
360-669-5500
Needed for LifeLine (Assurance Wireless) phone services and other services that require you to be on public assistance.
Cricket Wireless
Cricket offers the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a federal program that helps lower the cost of service for qualifying households. ACP provides a benefit of up to $30/mo., or up to $75/mo. on eligible Tribal lands, on your Cricket service.
“Free” Phones are still available in stores, but a small fee (essentially the tax) is required when phones are acquired in the store. Both the Lacey and Olympia stores have weekly, genuinely free phone events where phones are available without the fee and available immediately. The Lacey store events are Wednesdays 2-6 at the Dollar Tree @ 1321 Marvin Rd NE. The Olympia store events are Thursdays 11-2 at The Salvation Army 7/12/2023. Recommend calling stores to confirm scheduling. Olympia Crickett 360-350-0362, Lacey Crickett 360-339-0362
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is no longer accepting applications as of 2/2024.