Tech Advances Aid Unhoused in Cashless Society

New Apps Facilitate Electronic Donations, But Challenges Remain

Technological advances are helping to ensure that the unhoused are not left behind in the increasingly cashless society. These advances include apps that allow for electronic donations and purchases, helping to support those who rely on cash transactions for their livelihood.
The shift to a cashless society has been particularly felt in the realm of street-level charitable giving. The Salvation Army, for example, has created a system where donors can tap their phones on the kettle and pay directly.
Street Sense, a paper that employs unhoused individuals as vendors, has developed a phone app that allows people to buy a copy electronically, with profits going directly to the vendor.
The Samaritan app, currently operating in seven cities, allows donors to essentially sponsor an unhoused person without using cash. The app contains mini-profiles of local unhoused individuals, and donors can give money to fund specific needs.
Despite these advances, many unhoused individuals are still being left behind due to the complexities of navigating modern online presence, changing cellphone numbers, and deeper mental or emotional issues.