How Tech Is Helping Homeless

Earlier this month, young companies from all over came to DC to compete for the title of “Best Startup in the World.” San Francisco-based HandUp was the winner of the Challenge Cup. The for-profit company developed technology that allows people to donate money directly to a homeless or at-risk person. HandUp founder Rose Broome, middle, says the company tested the technology with two nonprofits in San Francisco and over 1,000 donors contributed and 100 homeless people participated during the pilot. At least eight people moved into housing.

HandUp, which previously raised a seed round of funding, works with nonprofits to get homeless people registered with the site. They build a profile page with their picture, a little on their background, and their needs. Sometimes it’s specific like dentures or general like food and public transportation. The homeless person gets donation request cards to hand out and gets updates through text, e-mail, and through the nonprofit. Donors can contribute as little as $1 directly to that person through the site. (The average donation has been $50.) Once the goal is met, the nonprofit works with the homeless person to use the money for its intended purpose. 

With the $150k won through the Challenge Cup competition, HandUp will expand to 15 Bay Area nonprofits by the end of the year and eventually spread to major urban hubs in the US and abroad. The company’s revenue model is to let donors decide if they want to pay a fee to the company for using the service. Rose says over 80% opt in. She’s heard from nonprofits all over the country and abroad interested in using the service, despite a negative perception that tech people think they can swoop in and solve a community problem. Rose says HandUp had early conversations with homeless people and the nonprofits that help them and made sure they understood HandUp was a partner in trying to solve one piece of the homelessness puzzle.