Exploring emergency sheltering services for people experiencing homelessness in San Diego County
We gathered people from across San Diego County
Participants who work in outreach, case management, and policy collaborated to dream up solutions that address problems they face. Of note, their individual solutions were quite similar, and together described an interconnected system to access sheltering services with a focus on reducing time and making transparent the availability of resources.
Low-fidelity Prototypes
Find out what experts in the field designed to solve problems associated with finding shelter for people who are unhoused.
Share your thoughts by giving feedback, below.
Tech for outreach workers
The following mobile app ideas help outreach workers and case managers match the most vulnerable to shelter and help connect outreach staff to each other. Transparency, equity, and efficiency were core criteria for these teams. For more details about each idea, click Read More.
Shelter Connect App
How might we make the availability of emergency shelters more visible and accessible to all programs across San Diego County?
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Creates a system to match individual needs with shelter resources
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Captures valuable data to understand who is receiving emergency shelter; and informs program improvements and equitable practices
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Reports on client demographics, number of beds, and number of participants served
One Stop Shop App
How might we allow outreach staff to receive faster responses to shelter requests when a person who is unhoused has expressed interest in emergency shelter during street outreach?
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Browse providers, their resources, and shelter availability in the region
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Reserve a bed for two hours; after that time period it is released back into shelter inventory
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Enter client information and special accommodations
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If no beds, place a client on a shelter waiting list
Real Time Resources App
How might we allow outreach staff to identify relevant and available resources and services for people who are unhoused more efficiently while doing street outreach?
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A seamless chat function that connects outreach staff, regardless of program, to each other
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Search function in chat to find answers to repeated questions
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Office Hours feature where an outreach staff is available in real time to answer questions
Tech for people who are unhoused
These teams considered how technology might make the acquisition of shelter more swift and more equitable for people seeking services on their own. The following kiosk and web site ideas provide the general public with key resources like shelter, where the nearest showers are located, and innovative needs like secure charging stations.
Resource Now kiosk
How might we make it easier for people who are unhoused to access resources and services on their own?
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Solar-powered kiosk located inside or near community resource buildings.
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Charging stations with small individual lockers for phone charging and security
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A private and secure way to access messages from resource providers
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Find relevant resources (shelter, healthcare, and transportation) and broadcasts of timely emergency alerts.
Shelter Connect web site
How might we make the availability in emergency shelters more visible and accessible to all programs across San Diego County?
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The general public can access a shelter matching feature
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Secure login for shelter and case management staff
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Staff can view and manage bed inventory and current requests for shelter
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Future upgrades: services like food banks and other relevant resources; an accountability program to encourage programs to keep information up to date.
Tech that connects to existing services
This team considered how technology might make the acquisition of shelter more transparent while using existing systems in the County to benefit from the data, structures, and resources they provide.
Sheer Shelter web site
How might we increase collaborations between agencies and programs that serve people who are unhoused to encourage more referrals?
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Registered users can view and interact with information depending on level of access
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Connects the case manager directly to the shelter once a match is made
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Integrated with Community Information Exchange (CIE)
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An accountability program ensures participating agencies keep their shelter and resource information updated.
Next step: your ideas.
The strength of these ideas rely on your feedback. Please take a moment to offer your experiences and expertise to improve their initial ideas.
What resonates with you? Why?
What features would you like to see added?
When finding shelter for clients, what is the most important information a shelter or an outreach worker needs?
Is anything missing from these ideas?
If you're interested in contributing to this project or receiving updates, please share your contact information.
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