When people are seeking housing assistance, they typically have little visibility into the process, leaving them in the dark as to what resources might be available and how long they might have to wait. The path to housing can be long and feel hopeless, compounded by the constant hardships and trauma of living on the streets.
We’re changing that with MyConnectSV, a first-of-its-kind tool co-developed by people with lived experience of homelessness, Bitfocus, Cisco, the County of Santa Clara, and Destination: Home. It helps those most impacted by homelessness navigate services more easily, while making the system more equitable, transparent, and responsive.
Connected to the County of Santa Clara’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), MyConnectSV functions similarly to the health management portals many of us use to communicate with medical teams, but it is built specifically around the needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
MyConnectSV shifts power into the hands of people seeking housing help and offers transparency into the process, while streamlining communication with members of a service care team and solving common problems that delay access to resources.
For example, people living outside can have a hard time staying in contact with outreach workers, as they’re often forced to relocate. A MyConnectSV user can now update their location and contact info as it changes so a care team member knows how and where they can be reached. Other helpful features include direct two-way messaging and the ability to upload and sign documents remotely, rather than requiring an in-person meeting.
Frederick Lane had been experiencing homelessness for nearly four years when he was notified through MyConnectSV that he was up on the queue to receive a placement in a new permanent supportive housing development in San Jose.
I was getting different messages from the [MyConnectSV tool] informing me of different events and things like that, but I was looking forward to seeing that message that I was able to get into the queue. And then one day I looked at my email and I had got it. It has really been life changing just knowing that everything’s working and I’m looking forward to getting housing and spending time with my son and cat.
MyConnectSV was created with direct input from individuals who have experienced homelessness and continues to evolve based on ongoing user feedback. More than 1,500 people are currently using the tool, and early data reflects a clear demand for this kind of user-centered solution.
We are now working toward the goal of connecting over 2,000 people to MyConnectSV by the end of the year with the help of key partners. The United Effort Organization is leading a peer support initiative to help individuals overcome any technical barriers to getting connected. Meanwhile, San José Public Libraries are launching two self-service stations, providing computers and in-person guidance for individuals who may not have access to a personal device.
Replication Across the Country
MyConnectSV’s early success in Santa Clara County has sparked interest from communities nationwide. In Memphis, Tennessee, a pilot version of the platform has already reached nearly 100 users in just two months. In Los Angeles, the County and partners are working to roll out their version in the near future.
Collaboration in Action
This work would not have been possible without the support of dedicated partners like Cisco, whose team continues to think creatively about how technology can serve the most vulnerable. Over the past eight years, Cisco has invested $75 million to expand access to deeply affordable and supportive housing, fund homelessness prevention efforts, and increase digital inclusion across our supportive housing system. Their support was instrumental to the development and launch of MyConnectSV.
In our latest Partner Spotlight, Erin Connor, Director of Cisco Crisis Response, shared how collaborations between tech leaders and nonprofit organizations can help pioneer lasting solutions:
Ending homelessness takes more than one organization or sector. It takes all of us, working in lockstep and leading with purpose, to create systems that ensure no one is left behind.
Together, through shared vision, technology, and lived experience, we are reshaping what access to housing help looks like.