Technology, Innovation and HOMELESSNESS?

In this day and age technology is interwoven into nearly every part of our lives. For the job-seeker, having even rudimentary understanding of how technology works is an essential part of the basic qualifications for employment. Business is conducted through email, orders are placed on the web, even the cash register now has a full computer key-board attached to it. For many of the men that come through the Uptown Shelter though, concepts like "point and click" and "download and print" are foreign. The often overwhelming anxiety and frustration that comes with trying to navigate in our technological world pushes men away from otherwise great opportunities. To help the men of the Uptown Shelter become acquainted with and comfortable with this technology, we have developed a client kiosk, much like the ones used when processing your e-ticket at the airport. The client kiosk serves as an information center helping men learn more about the Shelter, access CATS bus line information, read about community resources available to them and cruise through a list of frequently asked questions. With over 200 men at the Shelter on any given night, and limited staff, the kiosk serves as a key information center when staff are not available. Although only in the evaluation stage right now we have high hopes for the future of the kiosk and the benefit it will provide for our residents.