Homeless people in New York will receive smartphones with cryptocurrency

Startup Blockchain for Change has developed an app that allows homeless New Yorkers to access financial and government services. So that they can use it, they will receive free smartphones.

Three thousand homeless New Yorkers will receive a free smartphone, with which they can find out about the nearest shelters and food distribution points, as well as use financial services. The smartphone will have the blockchain-based Fummi app installed. This is the first project to help the homeless using this technology.

The application was developed by the New York startup Blockchain for Change, and Life Wireless will distribute smartphones. 

In New York City alone, more than 60,000 people sleep in shelters and on the streets, and most of them lack communications and digital identities, so they cannot receive government assistance. The initiators of the project plan to distribute about 200,000 gadgets by the end of 2018. 

Using the application, a homeless person will always be able to track his actions - which shelter he stayed at, how much he spent on showers, haircuts and clothes, and how much money he has in his account. It is planned that Fummi will become a universal means of access to all services that homeless people constantly use.

This is the first project to help the homeless using blockchain technology. At an early stage, the project received $500,000 in investment. 

According to various estimates, about 1.1 billion people around the world are not officially registered, which makes it difficult for them to access bank accounts, loans, government programs and services. Additionally, it is hoped that the adoption of blockchain will help reduce corruption and waste. According to the UN, about 30% of aid never reaches its intended destination.