Shine

Community and map based app that provides valuable information for those who struggle with homelessness.

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Inspiration

I was inspired by a documentary called Lost Angels (2010). The documentary opened my eyes to the profound struggles that homeless individuals face. Shine will bring light to the LGBTQ+ homeless community and provide a useful resource.

What it does and what it solves.

The app provides a live community feed and a map with a detailed list of LGBTQ+ friendly locations for those seeking shelter, housing assistance, food, clothes, etc. This real time feed is intended to bring the community, organizations, service providers, and those who seek assistance together. After signing up and logging in, users can create text posts and add pictures to the feed to which others can view, give kudos, comment, and share. If someone views a post as inappropriate, they can flag it for review. If users want to find LGBTQ+ friendly services, they may click on the map tab and will be able to get directions through Apple Maps. If they are unable to access internet or data, users can read a detailed list of each location with more information. This app gives reassurance to users who identify as LGBTQ+ that they will be finding safe spaces of acceptance.

How I built it

I built Shine with the Xcode IDE and wrote it in Apple's Swift language. The app's backend database uses Firebase, providing live updates for users. I started with a mockup using proto.io and Sketch. Once the finalized prototype was complete I began building the UI in the Xcode Interface Builder. Once the UI was completed, I set up Firebase and added cocoa pods to my project for the backend.

Challenges I ran into

I did not have much experience with using JSON and Mapkit, thus I had to read through many forums and tutorials as to how I could add locations to a map with information and directions.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

I am proud of completing my first hackathon! I gave myself a goal and created an app that I hope will benefit many people once released into the app store.

What I learned

Homelessness is an extremely serious issue in this country, especially for LGBTQ+ youth and adults. Before working on the hackathon, I did not know how high the rate of homeless LGBTQ+ people is and how hard it is to find places in Los Angeles that are fully supportive.

What's next for Shine

I plan to update the entire project to Swift 3, add small details, and release it to the app store. I also plan to expand on the compilation of LGBTQ+ friendly locations throughout California. I would like to get in contact with organizations and encourage them to use Shine as a platform to reach out to those who need assistance.

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