Bloomberg Philanthropies' 2018 U.S. Mayors Challenge Entry Helps Homeless Store Their Vital Documents Digitally
City officials on Wednesday announced the first step in launching an initiative aimed at improving identity services for homeless people.
Dubbed the "MyPass Initiative," the project is designed to provide homeless people with the option to store their vital documents digitally using new blockchain technology. The effort will be introduced as part of a Pop-Up Resource Clinic event hosted by The City of Austin and community organizations on Thursday, April 19, officials said in a press advisory.
Dell Medical School at The University of Texas, the City of Austin Office of Innovation, and Austin-Travis County EMS will be on hand to provide information to people experiencing homelessness about the MyPass Initiative and begin seeking feedback from users, officials added.
The project is part of the city's entry into Bloomberg Philanthropies' 2018 U.S. Mayors Challenge. Austin is among 35 "Champion Cities" to receive a $100,000 to build a pilot of their innovative civic solution. A grand prize winner of the competition will be awarded $5 million in October, with four additional cities earning another $1 million each to further develop and implement a sustainable solution...