Haven Initiative
Overview
Business Capstone Project aiming to design a social-technical solution for homelessness in Sydney. With a team of interdisciplinary students (law, business, computer science, and design), this project involves a comprehensive solution to addressing homelessness.
My Role
Lead Developer (team of 5)
Timeline
August - November 2024
Achievements
Highest mark in cohort! 🌟
Initial Research
Approaching homeless individuals can be difficult, as they often feel vulnerable and reluctant to interact with researchers, stemming from past negative experiences or a lack of trust. Hence, we conducted secondary research, critically analysing reputable government reports, academic research, and news articles, based on research quality criteria we developed.
Homelessness is split into six operational groups (ABS, 2023):
People living in improvised dwellings, tents, or sleeping out
People in supported accommodation for the homeless
People staying temporarily with other households
People living in boarding houses
People in other temporary lodgings
People living in severely crowded dwellings
As a result, we found out that there are..
Understanding Stakeholders
We performed stakeholder mapping to identify key players involved in the ecosystem surrounding homelessness. This laid the groundwork for defining the problem more clearly and developing effective solutions for both homeless individuals and the broader community.
Analysing Root Causes
Following our research, we conducted a root cause analysis for some of the key drivers of homelessness, using a fishbone diagram. Two main root causes were a lack of connectivity to technology and lack of employability.
Empathising with homeless individuals
With such information, we began to empathise with the homeless population by creating a problem scenario where we illustrated the specific challenges he faces daily, such as navigating the complexities of accessing education and employment services.
Setting Goals and Objectives
We articulated goals with a strong emphasis on Desirability, Feasibility, and Viability.
Validating Objectives: Desirability
We applied the 5W’s framework to outline who the primary users and stakeholders are, what specific needs and barriers they face, where our solution would have the most impact when it should be implemented, and why addressing these issues is critical for social equity. This framework guided our definition of a desirable solution, identifying user pain points such as lack of access to centralised resources and connectivity issues.
Validating Objectives: Feasibility & Viability
After conducting secondary research, we considered the external environment surrounding homelessness, through the lens of the PESTEL framework. This analysis highlighted key aspects of feasibility and viability: our solution needed to integrate sustainable infrastructure and align with governmental initiatives to ensure long-term support and funding.
Brainstorming
With the problems clearly defined, we synthesised insights from previous research and analysis to create a solution that addresses homelessness. Following multiple brainstorming, we generated two ideas: a phone service and an employment / education app.
Selecting
After conducting further research with current sources, we performed a DFV analysis for both of our proposed ideas to determine which solution we should offer.
Selected Solution
As a result, we determined that the most effective approach would be to combine several components of both ideas.
Prototyping
Prototyping of these components followed an agile approach, incorporating iterative cycles of sketches, wireframes, and mockups. By using agile methodologies and iterative testing, we ensured that the final solution was flexible and responsive to both user needs and technical constraints, particularly given the fast-paced nature of technological development.
User testing
To evaluate our solution we conducted multiple rounds of user testing, including 10 think-aloud, SUS surveys, and interviews. Given the challenges in engaging directly with homeless populations, we conducted tests with non-homeless participants who role-played personas of Balun, our persona. This allowed us to identify usability issues without involving vulnerable users directly, which could have raised ethical concerns.
Here are the top 3 insights we gained through the testings:
Iterating
Considering these insights, we performed a further secondary research and made following key iterations to improve the usability and accessibility of our solution:
Desirability
Our solution addresses major pain points homeless individuals face in accessing essential resources such as healthcare, food, housing, education, and employment, making it highly desirable from both an individual and societal perspective. The following is a summary of why our revised solution is desirable for different stakeholders, including homeless individuals, social service providers, and government bodies.
Feasibility
The solution is highly feasible because it leverages existing infrastructure and partnerships, minimising the need for large-scale investment or new technologies. Following is a summary of how we ensure feasibility by using well-established programs and partnerships with key stakeholders.
Viability
Our solution is highly viable from financial and operational perspectives as it is strengthened by its reliance on existing systems and its alignment with government and NGO priorities. Following is a summary of why the solution is viable from both cost and sustainability perspectives, as well as stakeholder alignment.
Risk and Mitigations
We created analysed the impact and probability of potential risks regarding our solution, and came up with mitigation strategies for a successful implementation of our solution.
Budget Forecast
We created analysed the impact and probability of potential risks regarding our solution, and came up with mitigation strategies for a successful implementation of our solution.
What makes Haven Initiative Special?
What did I learn through this project?
Thank you for reading!
