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Hack to the future – Scotland’s first Homeless Hackathon announced

The country’s first homeless hackathon is hoping to bring bright ideas for digital solutions to the growing homelessness crisis in Scotland’s cities

Scotland’s first-ever Homeless Hackathon will take place this April with the aim of finding practical ways to tackle Scotland’s growing homelessness problem.

It’s hoped the hackathon will be a spark for innovative solutions including apps, websites and other digital platforms.

Bringing together more than 150 people from across the IT and digital community, creative industries and charity sector, the event, sponsored by HRC Recruitment, a Glasgow-based recruitment agency, will also include pitches from Simon Community and Streetwork, who are looking for support to create a Risk Assessment App for their street teams.

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A report from Heriot-Watt University last year predicted homelessness in Scotland will rise by more than half in the next 25 years with an estimated 11,800 people across the country currently sleeping rough, staying in hostels, or living in unsuitable or temporary accommodation.

Glasgow Homeless Network Director, Margaret-Ann Brünjes, said: “If there are digital solutions that can ease people’s experience of homelessness in any way, then the Hackathon is the best opportunity to engage with the growing tech community in Scotland.”

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The Hackathon is looking to attract anyone with ideas, time, skills and resources to dedicate to supporting homeless charities. As well as programmers and coders, the Homeless Hackathon will welcome, event organisers, social workers, graphic designers, care workers, digital marketeers, project managers, shop owners, journalists, accountants, PR professionals and those in transformational roles.

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