Fwd: info on Street Codes

[Mike Koss]

Mike Koss
StartPad.org
Seattle Software Development Offices
(206) 388-3466
Twitter: @mckoss @startpad

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mike Koss <mck...@startpad.org>
Date: Wed, Jan 18, 2012 at 4:29 PM
Subject: Re: info on Street Codes
To: Jen Kelly <in...@thenewp2.com>
Cc: streetcode <stree...@googlegroups.com>

Hi Jen!

We started this project on Friday night - and had until Sunday to build a prototype and test it.  We talked to several homeless people around Pioneer Square, and also visited a shelter and talked staff at Real Change.  It was a very preliminary test; getting some early feedback from potential clients, and seeing to what extent people would be able to scan our codes.  The snow storm hit us in the middle of our test, so I'm not sure we got any meaningful data beyond the anecdotal interviews with clients and a few successful scans and visits to our mobile application (we were not taking live donations with our prototype).

We got mixed reactions from the homeless; some were not happy with the idea that the money would have to flow through sponsoring organizations (some animosity toward shelters, etc.).  Others were concerned about doing something "weird".  But we also heard that some would definitely use this as many people on the street don't feel comfortable given them cash.

We believe that a program like this really needs to partner with existing organizations that support the homeless; our goal is to make it easy for donors to help homeless individuals, by donated on their behalf, to the organizations in the community that are trying to help them.

I've attached slides from our presentation at Startup Weekend.  You can also find a description of the Street Code scenario on our open source project site.

Our group is committed to seeing this project through to initial implementation.  We will be continuing our work and have already set up weekly progress and momentum meetings to make sure we move this forward and bring in the partners we need to do a larger test.

Mike Koss
StartPad.org
Seattle Software Development Offices
(206) 388-3466
Twitter: @mckoss @startpad @street_codes

On Wed, Jan 18, 2012 at 1:09 PM, Jen Kelly <in...@thenewp2.com> wrote:

Hey Mike,

My name is Jen, I do the blog for Pioneer Square and actually just read the article in GeekWire about Street Codes early this week -- I was surprised when it said that it was already being used in Pioneer Square, but I guess you're saying it has been tested, right?

I'd love to hear more about it and if there are plans for doing a bigger roll out in the neighborhood. I'd also be interested if you guys have looked into how the homeless have reacted to the idea and you think there are groups that would be against the program.

Anyways -- sounds like a fascinating project and I'm excited to hear more.

Jen