Anne Chen1 and Ang Li2, 1USA, 2California State Polytechnic University, USA
The inspiration for creating this program stemmed from seeing the large number of homeless individuals in my community, leading me to design an app that could provide essential support, raise awareness, and facilitate help. Seeing the prominent number of homeless people in my community inspired me to create this program so that they can have better support, spread awareness, and make it easier for other people to help [1]. The app is aimed at assisting the homeless population in San Diego by offering immediate access to resources such as food, medical, mental health services, and shelter [2]. It also serves as a platform for donations and volunteer opportunities for people looking to help combat homelessness. The app focuses on accessibility and simplicity, ensuring it's easy for anyone to use by making it available on kiosks around San Diego and on the app store [3]. A key feature is the AI-powered chatbot, created using OpenAI, which helps address any specific questions or concerns that users may have beyond the standard resources. The app uses Firestore to manage a comprehensive database of locations and organizations, including contact details, hours of operation, and descriptions, which helps users select the most suitable support services [4]. The app also includes a map feature that guides users to nearby organizations, with locations sorted by proximity. To ensure the app's resources are up to date, it will be refreshed every two months to incorporate any changes. The app was designed with simplicity in mind, featuring straightforward buttons and clear instructions for ease of use, with the AI chatbot providing additional help for more complex questions. As part of the testing process, I created a usability survey with 10 questions focusing on interface, navigation, map functionality, and the chatbot's effectiveness [5]. Results showed an average score of 4.04/5, with the highest rating given to the app's potential for volunteers and donors. However, the map feature received the lowest ratings, suggesting some users might struggle with it. Despite minor issues, the app is performing as intended, and feedback indicates it successfully meets its primary goal of encouraging people to download it, especially for those seeking to help or looking for support[6].
Homelessness Support, Mobile Application, AI Chatbot, Volunteer and Donation Platform
