In the heart of Cincinnati, a city known for its vibrant community and innovative spirit, the Housing Stabilization Hackathon on February 2, 2024, provided a unique platform for creative minds to tackle one of society’s most pressing issues: homelessness. I had the privilege of developing and presenting PRVNT, an AI-driven platform designed to preemptively combat homelessness through early intervention. This project represents not just a technological innovation but a call to action for communities to come together to prevent homelessness before it happens.
From Insight to Action: The Development Journey of PRVNT
The journey to creating PRVNT was as enlightening as it was profound. Learning from those who have experienced homelessness, conducting multiple interviews with social agencies, gaining insights from case workers, and having discussions with city officials helped shape a holistic solution. These interactions informed the platform’s development and highlighted the power of collective action and empathy in addressing a key social problem.
Leveraging AI for Early Intervention: PRVNT’s Strategic Approach to Combatting Homelessness.
PRVNT is more than just a platform; it’s a strategic ally in the fight against homelessness. By leveraging AI for early intervention, it provides actionable insights for stakeholders at every level—from strategic planners to field workers—ensuring that assistance reaches those in need both effectively and efficiently. This innovative approach bridges the gap between data and action, offering hope for vulnerable populations.
Collaboration and Commendation: The Role of Cincinnati’s Startup Community and City Officials
The support and enthusiasm of Cincinnati’s startup ecosystem and the city’s officials, including a commendation from Mayor Aftab Pureval, were instrumental in bringing PRVNT to life. This environment of creativity and partnership highlights Cincinnati’s commitment to leveraging technology and innovation in solving big problems, marking it as a nurturing ground for solutions that make a difference.
Ideas in Action: The Hackathon Experience and PRVNT’s Recognition
Strategies To End Homelessness and The Flywheel Social Enterprise Innovation Hub partnered to pose the question: “What if proactively, we could get early help to families at risk and keep them in their homes?”. This thought led to a Hackathon-style, all-hands-on-deck effort over five days to develop actionable and innovative solutions, which were presented to the community and judges in a series of 5-minute presentations, followed by a 2-minute Q&A session, at cutting-edge labs and incubator: 1819 Innovation Hub University of Cincinnati.
The team led by Juan Lazarde, co-founder of KoesAI Consulting, where we help organizations make smarter decisions with the use of data and AI, was able to finish as a top finalist with the mention of “Best Use of Data”, out of an initial 42 submissions. The journey continues as we were invited to participate in the forum to continue to provide ideas to solve such an impactful problem.
Beyond the Hackathon: The Continued Journey of PRVNT and KoesAI Consulting
Participating in the Housing Stabilization Hackathon was not only an opportunity to showcase PRVNT, but also a moment of personal and professional growth. The feedback and interactions with judges, potential clients, and fellow innovators have been invaluable, paving the way for the next steps in KoesAI’s journey toward making a tangible impact in the community.
Read more about the event: Hackathon Brings Innovation and Focus to the Problem of Reducing Evictions, and here’s a 2-minute pitch: YouTube Video.
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