The city wants to give its 7,000 citizens without permanent homes "[u]nique digital identifiers" to help them get reliable access to services.
Last week, Bloomberg Philanthropies awarded up to $100,000 to 35 projects as part of the initial phase of the 2018 US Mayors Challenge.
One of those project is from Austin; the city aims to use blockchain technology—the kind that is used in cryptocurrency—to make it easier for the city's estimated 7,000 homeless residents to access services. The proposal was inspired by efforts to use blockchain ID for Syrian refugees.
"The technology could be used to create unique digital identifiers for homeless people, allowing them to reestablish the credibility of their housing, health, and employment records and help put them on the road to recovery."
Housing prices and homelessness are up in a number of major U.S. cities, and Austin is not the first to look to the tech industry for a solution; Berkeley is considering using blockchain to issue tokens that could be redeemed at local stores. The goal of selling such tokens would be to raise money for affordable housing.
FULL STORY: Austin wants to use blockchain technology to help the homeless
How Mobile Homes Fill a 'Critical Gap' in Affordable Housing
Cities across America have a housing crisis on their hands—should they be talking more about trailer parks?
SF Chronicle Editorial Board: Build More Homes to Help the Homeless
And stop changing the subject, adds the Editorial Board of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Austin’s Building Boom Not Reaching Lowest-Income Families
Despite having the highest rate of affordable housing construction in the nation, Austin is still underproducing housing for the neediest households.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.
Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.
In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont