Get the latest tech news

Inefficient tech slowing efforts to get homeless people off the streets

Los Angeles is the nation's epicenter of homelessness, where more than 45,000 people live in weather-beaten tent encampments and rusting RVs.

Billions of dollars have been spent to get homeless people off the streets in the region, but outdated computer systems with error-filled data are all too often unable to provide even basic information. One of the big challenges: There is currently no uniform practice for caseworkers to collect and enter information into databases on the homeless people they interview. Better Angels conducted over 200 interviews with caseworkers, data experts, managers and others involved in homeless programs as part of developing their software.

Get the Android app