Sheltr is a simple app that uses your current location to determine what the nearest source of available food, shelter, medical services or other basic human needs are so that that you can help someone in need.
Sheltr uses food resource availability data and shelter and temporary housing data to map the best way to instruct the needy on how to get help.
Sheltr allows local food cupboards, soup kitchens, and shelters to locally update their information and status via the web or text message. This allows for accurate and real time information to appear in search results. Eg. A food cupboard can update their status to "We have run out of food today" or "We need volunteers for the soup kitchen today"
The Problem:
In many cities, there is no centralized information repository to serve the immediate needs of the homeless and hungry. In Philadelphia, for example, there are 40 shelters and 4 intake centers, and an unknown number of organizations that provide food — real-time communication between them is minimal to non-existent. As a consequence, there is no easy and accurate way to guide people in need to available shelters and meals.
The Goal:
To quickly and accurately guide persons in need to closest available and open food and shelter resources.
The Solution:
A mobile-friendly web app that provides information to guide individuals to an intake center, a place where meals can be accessed, and a place to sleep for the night.
The app is targeted toward agencies, individuals serving people in need, and the public.
Currently there is no way to gauge real-time availability of food and shelter services for disparate groups. The Philly Sheltr Project establishes consolidated baseline information (service availability), contact for intake centers, and specific instructions to access resources.
The Team:
Bula Bhular
Casey Thomas
Cheyne Rood
Gabriel Farrell
Marc Weil
Mike Ball
Robert Cheetham
Salas Saraiya
Sheltr was developed at Random Hacks of Kindness Philadelphia in December 2011.