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deleted deleted   •   about 11 years ago

Mobile apps for Homeless Vets ?

10 Years ago, I WAS a homeless Vet. Homeless people with WIRELESS INTERNET DEVICES ??

JBJ, you rock, but, IMO this is a waste of resources that could be used elsewhere for veterans.

Think about. If they are homeless, are we really going to keep up our wireless plan ? NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD A BLACKBERRY or other device.

Is some group going to give EVERY Homeless / jobless Vet a 4G phone w/ data plan ?? I have a Motorola Razer (razr?), the old one. All I can afford.

  • 2 comments

  • Manager   •   about 11 years ago

    Thank you for taking the time to share your feelings with us. Its not the first time someone has asked why we would want a smartphone app that helps aggregate and provide useful information about services that help homeless. A member of the media raised it yesterday in fact.

    Jon Bon Jovi tells the story of a night at JBJ Soul Kitchen when one guest stayed very late and the staff realized that this man had nowhere to go. They were able to use a laptop they had to find some local resources, but the information on the Internet didn't tell them things like how many beds were available or even what the hours were.

    The contest primarily focuses on helping the people who help the homeless, and there are a lot more of us out there who could be helping if we had the right kind of information. For now, we focus on the outreach coordinator, a host at a soup kitchen, or a good Samaritan who sees someone in need and wants to know who to reach out for help. All of these people would benefit from having real time or near real time information about shelters, housing, and other available services in their area.

    That's not to say that a homeless person – particularly the recently homeless or people at risk of homelessness – may not have access to a smartphone, but we see a greater opportunity to support the people trying to help others in need.

    Be sure to check out our Blog (coming later today) for more answers to your questions and thanks for getting involved.

  •   •   about 11 years ago

    10 years ago, wireless internet did not have the ubiquity it does now. Also, by requiring the app be web accessible as well as mobile, there is still the possibility to reach homeless vets through desktop computers. You would be amazed at how many homeless folks there are at any given day using the public computers at my library.

    This is absolutely a real channel for people in need. If not for all, then at least for enough.

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