FAQ and Data Sources
On March 7, 2008, Transitions representatives–along with other early submitters to the Netsquared Challenge–were fortunate enough to be able to attend the Netsquared/Google Hackathon in Mountain View. During this event we were asked to find answers to a set of questions that would make it easier for developers to understand, relate to and volunteer for our project. The document you are reading was created to supply developers with those answers. We also include an initial set of resources for the mashup. Our suggestions for the programming solutions are contained in the document entitled Technical Description, which is also available on this site.
1. What do we want to do? We are looking for one or two click solutions to find basic services for homeless/displaced/in transition people. We want solutions that are portable and available for anyone to use. The ideal widget will be easy to find and operate with a simple box to enter location and need, connected to a larger portal that provides full services and plans for action.
2. What does that need? Programming, data sources, partners willing to place the widget with us.
3. What are the input data sources? We will provide service provider directories for the search function, and blog addresses for the "news from the displaced" feeds. We will need ways to edit the list of data sources. Service provider directories change, and blogs can be ephemeral. Other inputs will include information available to Google searches in general, and photos of local resources where these are available.
We are using our Tumblr blog as a place to gather resources as we work on the project.
Sample directories:
Washington State food bank locator provides a map and directions!
http://cted.wa.gov/maps/
HUD Local Homeless Assistance, by State
http://www.hud.gov/homeless/hmlsagen.cfm
Second Harvest Food Bank Locator (national)
http://www.secondharvest.org/zip_code.jsp
Hand-picked links by a homeless activist.
http://www.sparesomechange.com/
National Coalition for the Homeless
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/resources/local/local.html
Blogs:
Homeless People's Network
http://www.asu.edu/hpn
Norse Horse Morgan Brown
http://norsehorseshometurf.blogspot.com/
NH Under The Bridge
http://nhunderthebridge.blogspot.com/
The Homeless Guy
http://thehomelessguy.blogspot.com/
View From The Sidewalk
http://view-sidewalk.blogspot.com/
Jamie's Big Voice
http://jamiesbigvoice.blogspot.com/
Wandering Scribe
http://wanderingscribe.blogspot.com/
Annual Homeless Marathon
Radio - Will take place again in Feb 2009
http://www.homelessnessmarathon.org/
Mary Freighter Screenplay
(accompanies a screenplay in progress about a homeless couple)
http://maryfreighter.blogspot.com/
4. What are the outputs? Full name, address and a contact to reach at thousands of service providers worldwide, possibly connected to googlemap and other applications.
5. How will we market the project? Initially, through community technology centers, libraries, the global network of concerned groups and individuals, educational institution partners and nonprofit partners; then as successful to the general public via mass media stories/features.
6. How will we prevent the data from becoming stale? Google search flexibility along with stewardship over the long term by a community of integrated partners.
7. How will we arrange for sustainability? Low cost after development, little to maintain, beneficial to any number of partners who will trade outreach and audience for this tool on their site.
8. What already exists? There are scattered directories of service providers in the US and worldwide.
9. What is missing? A one-stop location for people who are displaced, homeless, or in transition; global resources.
10. What is similar to our project?strong> In terms of aggregated information, there is little that is similar. However, there is quite a bit of information that is available online: individuals, including homeless bloggers, have contributed information to the web, as have service providers and local and State organizations.
11. Who are our users?
–Who is in the primary audience; what is their goal; what actions will they take on the page? The primary audience consists of homeless and displaced people worldwide, as well as those who have found housing but are still on their way up. Homeless and displaced people will be able to use the site to quickly find local resources along with directions to the resources, and to print out a formatted booklet of local resources. They will also be able to post comments and to contribute opinions, resources and solutions.
–Who is in the secondary audience; what is their goal; what actions will they take on the page? The secondary audience will consist of service providers, policy makers, and all those who seek awareness of issues. They will be able to take all of the actions available to the primary audience, although some actions will only be available to some groups.
12. What are our resources? The five groups that make up this project are all contributing time: at least 30 people or groups have already stated that they will support us as well.
13. Who will help us? For the long term, and because we want this project to be global, we are looking for further funding, possibly via a university-nonprofit consortium involving more than one university and up to five nonprofit agencies.