Using Open-Source Technology to Transform Healthcare and Housing for the Homeless

The following is a guest article by Graham Dodge, President at PathCheck Foundation

The homelessness crisis in the United States has reached alarming levels with over 650,000 people in the U.S. experiencing homelessness in 2023 according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Meanwhile, the politics on how to address this issue have never been more controversial with 75 U.S. cities, including Berkeley California, tightening restrictions on homeless encampments after a Supreme Court decision this year that allows government-imposed restrictions on outdoor sleeping. The number of people experiencing homelessness (PEH) continues to rise, driven by economic instability, inadequate housing support, and gaps in access to essential healthcare services. While the situation is complex, one promising solution lies in the integration of digital technology, specifically open-source platforms like those developed by the PathCheck Foundation, to improve the coordination of care and support for this vulnerable population.

Open-source technology has transformed industries from software development to education, and its potential to address social determinants of health cannot be overstated. In the healthcare and housing sectors, open-source solutions offer a collaborative and extensible approach that supports innovation while remaining cost-effective and scalable. By leveraging these technologies, organizations can develop tools to enhance care coordination and resource distribution for individuals experiencing homelessness.

The PathCheck Foundation, in collaboration with the street medicine team from the Zumbro Valley Medical Society (ZVMS) Foundation, is working on an innovative initiative tailored for this purpose, called OPAL which stands for Olmsted Partnership for Assistance and Lifelines, initially supported by a Mayo Clinic Community Grant. OPAL is a web-based chat application built on the Nostr framework, which is a popular open-source alternative to traditional social media channels similar to BlueSky (both invested in by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey).  But OPAL takes Nostr a step forward and enables the sharing of electronic medical records (EMR), health-related social needs (HRSN), and social determinants of health (SDOH) in a secure, privacy-preserving way that maintains the individual as the owner of the data who chooses which care coordinators may have access to their data. This initiative focuses on improving coordination for people experiencing homelessness in Olmsted County, Minnesota, and promises to be a model for how open-source platforms can help reduce homelessness. Being built on Nostr means other Nostr-based apps can deploy the same capabilities, which the Amethyst app for Android has already begun integrating.

The challenge faced by many healthcare and housing providers is a fragmented system where critical information about a person’s health status or housing situation remains siloed. This fragmentation can lead to repeated or missed interventions, duplicative efforts, and, in the worst cases, individuals falling through the cracks of the support system. Open-source technology can serve as a unifying force, creating a more connected ecosystem where agencies collaborate seamlessly.

“We see so many uses for a communication and care coordination platform. OPAL will allow us to provide care and housing readiness for the individuals we work with in street medicine, recuperative care (medical respite), and hospital discharge,” said Beth Kangas, Executive Director at ZVMS.

Indeed, OPAL addresses these issues head-on. The platform allows healthcare providers, housing coordinators, and other service organizations to communicate securely and effectively. By doing so, OPAL aims to improve the timeliness of interventions, facilitate smoother transitions from shelters to stable housing, and enable real-time updates on a person’s health and social needs. This approach can significantly enhance outcomes for people experiencing homelessness by reducing administrative burdens and improving care coordination. Ultimately, reducing the time it takes for someone experiencing homelessness to receive the care and support they need to find housing in a sustainable way.

The potential impact of open-source solutions like OPAL extends beyond individual health outcomes. On a broader scale, these technologies can provide data-driven insights to guide policy decisions and resource allocation. For instance, patterns identified through OPAL could help community leaders understand where additional shelters or healthcare clinics are needed, or highlight systemic barriers that require legislative action — perhaps preventing homelessness encampments from forming in the first place. By encouraging a more integrated approach, we can create reciprocating feedback that informs and improves service delivery at multiple levels.

The collaboration between PathCheck Foundation and ZVMS Foundation exemplifies how interdisciplinary partnerships can harness the power of technology to address systemic challenges. It also serves as a call to action for other innovators and policymakers. By investing in and prioritizing open-source digital infrastructure, we can create more equitable and cost-efficient systems that serve our most vulnerable populations.

As the homelessness crisis continues to escalate, we must consider all tools at our disposal. Open-source technology offers a way forward, providing scalable, cost-effective, and community-driven solutions that can transform how healthcare and housing services are delivered to people experiencing homelessness. We have the knowledge and the means to make a difference. The question is, will we act on it?

About Graham Dodge

Graham Dodge is an entrepreneur, author, and patented inventor recognized for his contributions to building entrepreneurial ecosystems and open-source communities. As the President of PathCheck Foundation, he has spearheaded the creation of influential open-source technologies adopted by leading organizations such as Google Health and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The following is a guest article by Graham Dodge, President at PathCheck Foundation

The homelessness crisis in the United States has reached alarming levels with over 650,000 people in the U.S. experiencing homelessness in 2023 according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Meanwhile, the politics on how to address this issue have never been more controversial with 75 U.S. cities, including Berkeley California, tightening restrictions on homeless encampments after a Supreme Court decision this year that allows government-imposed restrictions on outdoor sleeping. The number of people experiencing homelessness (PEH) continues to rise, driven by economic instability, inadequate housing support, and gaps in access to essential healthcare services. While the situation is complex, one promising solution lies in the integration of digital technology, specifically open-source platforms like those developed by the PathCheck Foundation, to improve the coordination of care and support for this vulnerable population.

Open-source technology has transformed industries from software development to education, and its potential to address social determinants of health cannot be overstated. In the healthcare and housing sectors, open-source solutions offer a collaborative and extensible approach that supports innovation while remaining cost-effective and scalable. By leveraging these technologies, organizations can develop tools to enhance care coordination and resource distribution for individuals experiencing homelessness.

The PathCheck Foundation, in collaboration with the street medicine team from the Zumbro Valley Medical Society (ZVMS) Foundation, is working on an innovative initiative tailored for this purpose, called OPAL which stands for Olmsted Partnership for Assistance and Lifelines, initially supported by a Mayo Clinic Community Grant. OPAL is a web-based chat application built on the Nostr framework, which is a popular open-source alternative to traditional social media channels similar to BlueSky (both invested in by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey).  But OPAL takes Nostr a step forward and enables the sharing of electronic medical records (EMR), health-related social needs (HRSN), and social determinants of health (SDOH) in a secure, privacy-preserving way that maintains the individual as the owner of the data who chooses which care coordinators may have access to their data. This initiative focuses on improving coordination for people experiencing homelessness in Olmsted County, Minnesota, and promises to be a model for how open-source platforms can help reduce homelessness. Being built on Nostr means other Nostr-based apps can deploy the same capabilities, which the Amethyst app for Android has already begun integrating.

The challenge faced by many healthcare and housing providers is a fragmented system where critical information about a person’s health status or housing situation remains siloed. This fragmentation can lead to repeated or missed interventions, duplicative efforts, and, in the worst cases, individuals falling through the cracks of the support system. Open-source technology can serve as a unifying force, creating a more connected ecosystem where agencies collaborate seamlessly.

“We see so many uses for a communication and care coordination platform. OPAL will allow us to provide care and housing readiness for the individuals we work with in street medicine, recuperative care (medical respite), and hospital discharge,” said Beth Kangas, Executive Director at ZVMS.

Indeed, OPAL addresses these issues head-on. The platform allows healthcare providers, housing coordinators, and other service organizations to communicate securely and effectively. By doing so, OPAL aims to improve the timeliness of interventions, facilitate smoother transitions from shelters to stable housing, and enable real-time updates on a person’s health and social needs. This approach can significantly enhance outcomes for people experiencing homelessness by reducing administrative burdens and improving care coordination. Ultimately, reducing the time it takes for someone experiencing homelessness to receive the care and support they need to find housing in a sustainable way.

The potential impact of open-source solutions like OPAL extends beyond individual health outcomes. On a broader scale, these technologies can provide data-driven insights to guide policy decisions and resource allocation. For instance, patterns identified through OPAL could help community leaders understand where additional shelters or healthcare clinics are needed, or highlight systemic barriers that require legislative action — perhaps preventing homelessness encampments from forming in the first place. By encouraging a more integrated approach, we can create reciprocating feedback that informs and improves service delivery at multiple levels.

The collaboration between PathCheck Foundation and ZVMS Foundation exemplifies how interdisciplinary partnerships can harness the power of technology to address systemic challenges. It also serves as a call to action for other innovators and policymakers. By investing in and prioritizing open-source digital infrastructure, we can create more equitable and cost-efficient systems that serve our most vulnerable populations.

As the homelessness crisis continues to escalate, we must consider all tools at our disposal. Open-source technology offers a way forward, providing scalable, cost-effective, and community-driven solutions that can transform how healthcare and housing services are delivered to people experiencing homelessness. We have the knowledge and the means to make a difference. The question is, will we act on it?

About Graham Dodge

Graham Dodge is an entrepreneur, author, and patented inventor recognized for his contributions to building entrepreneurial ecosystems and open-source communities. As the President of PathCheck Foundation, he has spearheaded the creation of influential open-source technologies adopted by leading organizations such as Google Health and the World Health Organization (WHO).