“NYC Homeless Help”
Creators: Alejandro, Aide, Alissa, Ashley, Karla, Maria, and Yaila
Middle School Students from Mouse Design League (DIIT) @ PS/MS 161
About this Project:
During the process we tried to figure out what homeless people need and how we could help them get it quickly and in an efficient manner while also making sure that the app would be user friendly and easy to navigate so that they don't need to waste time trying to figure out how the app works.
Our project would work by having volunteers to help distribute clothing or take donations and send them to people in need, example: say someone was donating food, we would have a volunteer pick up the food and then if a homeless person or person in need needs food we would have another volunteer to send it to them. The project would also have information on shelters and could show the user the nearest shelters if they needed to stay somewhere. The food category will have many different mini sections, for example: if a user has an allergy to peanuts the food category can show food that doesn't contain peanuts so that they can make sure their eating food that's safe. It would also contain a privacy policy so that we know where to send their items.
Project Media
Slides
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Fun
Innovative
Helpful
Great Design
Makes Me Think
Feedback from the Judges:
👏 Garage Designer at IBM — Emoti-Con Judge
I'm so impressed with how your team went after such a pressing challenge, homelessness, and thoughtfully considered it from so many different angles. You mention making sure the app is easy to use, finding people shelters, and considering multiple ways that other people might be able to support the homeless population. Keep going after such pressing needs and you will all accomplish great things!
One way you might be able to make this accessible to more people is provide a web version of your application so that possibly people without access to smartphones could access it from a computer at the library. Beyond that, you did a great job bringing the app to life in Figma and highlighting all of the different needs it addresses. Wonderful work!
One way you might be able to make this accessible to more people is provide a web version of your application so that possibly people without access to smartphones could access it from a computer at the library. Beyond that, you did a great job bringing the app to life in Figma and highlighting all of the different needs it addresses. Wonderful work!
👏 Lead UXD on Spaces at Google — Emoti-Con Judge
Awesome work team! You've really taken the needs of the unhoused into deep consideration. I love that you included ways for users to receive products that account for their dietary needs, very innovative. An app like this could really help to bring supportive communities to come together.
👏 Teaching Artist at Pockets Change — Emoti-Con Judge
This is a super thoughtful app, and a great way to give people who are concerned about the unhoused specific actions that they can do to support individuals in an immediate way. It's really considerate of you to think about the dietary needs of unhoused people, the need for unhoused kids to have toys.
One thing that might enhance the app would be a tab for getting support for finding work/housing. You could potentially link in city/county services for this, similar to how you link in information for shelters, but it is also possible that there are people with these skills that might want to donate their time to supporting homeless people in this way. Just a thought! And to echo what Alex said, it may be helpful to create a web version for users who don't have a smart phone.
There is so much compassion in this project and it warms my heart! Great work designing this.
One thing that might enhance the app would be a tab for getting support for finding work/housing. You could potentially link in city/county services for this, similar to how you link in information for shelters, but it is also possible that there are people with these skills that might want to donate their time to supporting homeless people in this way. Just a thought! And to echo what Alex said, it may be helpful to create a web version for users who don't have a smart phone.
There is so much compassion in this project and it warms my heart! Great work designing this.
Feedback from the Community:
AIDA 👏 a Middle School Student
I LOVE THERE SLIDES AND THEIR WORK IN GENERAL , THE ONLY THING THE GROUP COULD HAVE CHANGED IS THE WALLPAPER FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PAGE AND MAYBE THE EMOJIS, THEY ALSO COULD HAVE ADDED MORE STICK OUT COLORS, THEIR IDEA OF THE WHOLE WORK WAS AWSOME AND HELPFUL FOR ANY HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE FURTRE, THESE STUDENTS ARE REAL HEROS IN THE PROCESS.
Perez 👏 a Teacher from MS 161
I loved that the app gives easier access to essential resources for homeless people. I also liked how you made improvements to how the app would appear. Question: How would people that use this app get assistance with getting beds or shelter?
JAZZ 👏 a Middle School Student
GREAT WORK!?
👏 a Middle School Student from Student
I'm glad that people know these is a big problem good work!
Ahmed 👏 a Middle School Student from P.S 161
Good help to the homeless people. Very bright idea knowing that there is homeless people in our community because of the pandemic.
francis 👏 a Middle School Student
i love the great work you are doing because this helps the poor people in need with all they need
👏 a Middle School Student
I really think this app is gonna be successful, the idea of helping the homeless is amazing
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