Now recruiting contestants for a housing stability Hackathon.
Seeking data, digital tools, insights, and engagement solutions to interrupt the path from at-risk for housing loss, to homelessness.
One in every 14 families renting in Cincinnati face an eviction filing. Countless more get behind in rent and move before the legal process starts. Housing loss destabilizes families. It disrupts school, employment, healthcare, safety, and nurturing relationships. Studies link forced housing loss for children to lifelong trauma and toxic stress.
What if proactively, we could get early help to families at-risk and keep them in their homes? That is the challenge Flywheel is posing to the innovation community.
The hackathon is in coordination with the City of Cincinnati and the Human Services Impact Award to reduce eviction. Strategies to End Homelessness is leading the work of a collaborative that includes 84.51, Bethany House, Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, Found House Interfaith Housing Network, Legal Aid Society, Lighthouse Youth and Family Services, St. Vincent DePaul, and YWCA.
Hackathon Details
Flywheel, in collaboration with community partners serving at-risk families, will be producing a Housing Stabilization Hackathon. We are calling on innovators and entrepreneurs to help interrupt the path from at-risk for housing loss, to homelessness. More specifically, what data, tools, insight collection, and communication can improve early intervention and keep families housed, stable and strong?
The kickoff for the one-week sprint is January 26, 2024. It will begin with an online information session presenting the issues and explaining the process and rules for the event. Resources will include access to a portal containing research and data as well as office hours with service providers for feedback and questions. Flywheel will also provide coaching.
The challenge ends with pitch presentations February 2nd in front of an audience and judges. Flywheel is now recruiting contestants for the Hackathon. The event is open to teams or individuals. Businesses and community organizations are also encouraged to enter and may use their own data to find correlations and leverage possibilities.
Click below or go to https://www.flywheelcincinnati.org/housing-stabilization-hackathon for more information.
Prizes Include:
- A $1000 cash prize for the winning idea.
- Acceptance into Flywheel Elevate Equity Accelerator 2024 for entrepreneurs – Includes $5,000 cash investment | 8-week startup training | Personalized coaching | Access to the Flywheel network for social and financial capital.
- Residency with a Partner Organization; for proposals that fit into the scope of work of a collaborative member.
- Future contract with the collaborative; for proposals with utility that can be deployed within the grant.
- Recognition awards will be given for presentations that are meritorious for their creativity, use of technology, dignity for those served, and more.
Strategies to End Homelessness President & CEO, Kevin Finn noted the root of the problem. “People don’t reach out for some sort of service until their crisis has gotten to a certain level, and most of the time by then, it’s too little, too late. What we’re trying to do is identify people before their situation has escalated.”
Flywheel Executive Director, Laura Tepe said, “This project fits squarely into Flywheel’s commitment to address equity through entrepreneurship. We know Black women with children are twice as likely to be threatened with eviction. And we believe entrepreneurs have a way of seeing around corners to find new ways to solve old problems. We’re looking forward to seeing some promising ideas.”
