Group #38 Approach for tackling homelessness "PathFinder"

Like many residents of San Jose, we were deeply aware of the city’s growing homelessness crisis. Despite the visible increase in the homeless population, there seemed to be little effective support from the government. When we saw the homelessness-related prompts at this year’s SJHacks, we decided to dig deeper. After researching studies and statistics online, we initially thought the lack of proper documentation among homeless individuals might be a key barrier. To test our theory, we decided to personally go around San Jose and interview homeless individuals, offering payment for their time. Surprisingly, we learned that documentation was not the issue. Everyone we spoke to had access to an ID, thanks to a government program that provides DMV vouchers. During one interview, a man named David pointed us in a new direction. He explained that the biggest obstacle was not identification — it was employability. Homeless individuals often have long gaps in their employment history, little to no professional network, and no easy way to prove their reliability to potential employers. This insight led us to pivot our project. We decided to create a job platform designed for easy access through public library computers (since many homeless individuals do not have smartphones). Our platform would host a marketplace for "odd jobs" — small tasks that people often need done but are willing to pay modestly for. This setup would be mutually beneficial: community members get affordable help, while homeless individuals earn money, build work experience, and establish a work history. Each completed job would increase a worker’s "Hiree Trust Score," rated on a 100-point scale based on the number of jobs completed and customer reviews. A high trust score would serve as a verified record of reliability, improving users’ chances when applying for part-time or full-time jobs. Of course, we recognize that this solution won't solve homelessness entirely. Many individuals struggle with mental health challenges or substance abuse, and those issues require a different kind of support. However, our goal is to help those who are ready and willing to work to rebuild their reputation, re-enter the workforce, and start moving toward stability. Even if it doesn’t fix everything, it can make a meaningful dent. Ultimately, this project aims to create a self-sustaining, capitalistic system that helps people lift themselves out of homelessness without relying heavily on government aid. However, if government support were available, for example, through tax incentives for hiring through programs like ours, it could further motivate companies to participate and accelerate the impact.