Tech 4 Community

Innovative Technology + Social Work + Community Involvement = Long-term Positive Change

Tech4Community is envisioned to be a space where engineers and social workers come together to create positive social change in Columbus, OH.

By partnering together, students and professionals from both fields are better equipped to find high-tech solutions to the complex challenges present in our local communities.

Both engineers and social workers have a very important common goal: to apply knowledge of the sciences to solving real world problems. This common approach makes a partnership between these two disciplines complementary and absolutely integral when looking at community needs/assets.

Using models of needs assessment and solution-matching, Tech4Community is currently working on multiple projects here in Columbus. See below for more details and contact us in order to get involved.

Needs Assessment:

Through collaboration with the Open Shelter Inc., the following were identified as technology needs for the homeless population living in Columbus:

Lighting: Candles are used in personal shelters for heat and light. Sometimes, they fall over and start a fire, sometimes with catastrophic consequences. Goal: Create a low-cost approach to make it safer to use a candle in a personal shelter using local materials.
Heating: For tents or make-shift shelters in the winter
Sanitation: Sanitation challenges are often ignored, but are important to ensure a clean safe/healthy living environment. Goal: Create a portable latrine from very low cost easily available items.
Transportation
Food preparation tool

Solutions/Progress:

In 2014, Pamela Arange (ECOS) worked in collaboration with the Open Shelter to design various solutions to some of the technology needs identified. These new technology designs are described and pictured below:

Low-Cost Cooking

As pictured, this wire contraption holds a pot or other item to be heated. A candle is used as the heat source and the aluminum container prevents starting a fire if the contraption tips over. Although not shown here, a similar design was made using an alternative (hotter) heat source.

Low-Cost Non-Polluting Heater

For this heater, the candle is on the bottom, heat is captured by the pot on top. If the candle tips the aluminum container on the bottom will prevent a fire starting. Also, the reflection device at the bottom serves as an additional heat source. See picture on the right.

Low-Cost Non-Polluting Light for Shelter

In this design, the candles generate the light, and the reflectors make sure that light is focused where it is needed. The reflectors also focus the heat generated.

Low-Cost Portable Urban Latrine

As pictured, this low-cost portable urban latrine is a milk jug with a plastic grocery bag inserted. Additionally, there is a plastic container set over the plastic bag. The handle is useful.

Low-Cost Safe Candle-Holder

In this design, the top of a plastic water bottle is cut off, inverted, and pushed into the bottom of the bottle. The candle fits into the bottom hole and the bottle catches wax and stabilizes the candle.

Worthington Food Pantry

Needs Assessment:

Pantry IT Needs:

Inventory hardware/software of existing computers
Establish a computer standard
Develop backup methodology
Establish data security standards
Other possible issues for the future: Assess/address database design, website design, web-based services, flow/logistics analysis, web-based giving

Solution/Progress:

Masters of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering student project: Logistics study to determine strategies to improve flow through the pantry. Gathered data on timing of all events, modeled lines and pantry layout in Matlab SimEvents (software donated by Mathworks Corp. for this project), did simulations (including Monte Carlo runs) to assess value of change of strategies for moving people through the pantry services, and made recommendations for changes. For a project report, click here.

Past relevant work by OSU ECOS: ECOS installed computer labs with 4-5 computers, hardware and software, at two international sites. See the ECOS web site for their Eastminster senior citizen computer education project.

Catholic Social Services

Needs Assessment:

Pantry Client Needs:

Individual mentoring in Spanish/English on basic computer skills
Help teach about web browsers and Microsoft Word
Helping with online job searches and resume writing (in MS Word)
Help with email, social media (e.g., Facebook), Google Docs accounts (for storage), skype, other Microsoft Office products

Pantry Administration Needs:

Facebook and webpage development
Development of volunteer registration and tracking software for "Service Saturday" event (see below)

Solution/Progress:

ECOS students programmed an Excel database for automating "Service Saturday" (tracking tools, supplies, and people for each location worked at); see their website for more information. Database was used for Service Saturday in 2014.

Written by: Hugo Gonzalez & Sally Dunlap

During the summer of 2015, engineering and social work students completed a needs assessment in Franklinton, an underserved neighborhood on the West side of Columbus, OH. Below is a write up of the community needs assessment and also some suggested solutions:

Methodology

The Tech4Community research team used a variety of methods to conduct a needs assessment within the Franklinton community. In an effort to engage the residents of Franklinton, the team conducted two focus groups at the Gladden Community House food pantry. In addition, the team did intercept surveying at the Franklinton National Night Out 2015 event. During this event, 38 residents were surveyed and the responses were analyzed. Lastly, the research team met with a community leaders and organizational stakeholders. Through meetings with the following stakeholders, the team was able to gather information about key needs throughout the neighborhood. These stakeholders included: Mt. Carmel West Health Resource Center, Franklinton Cycleworks, Gladden Community House, and Westside Food Mapping Committee (which involved representatives from Lower Lights Christian Health Center, Mt. Carmel West, Gladden Food Pantry, Franklinton Gardens).

Key Findings

Community Assets

In looking at the information gathered in Franklinton, one can see there are important assets that are hidden within the neighborhood. It is clear that the most prevalent strength is the sense of community and identity within the neighborhood. Many residents and stakeholders described groups of neighbors who look out for one another and communicate regularly. From watching out for each other’s homes/belongings to simply conversing on a regular basis, the residents of Franklinton blocks connect on a more regular basis than one would see in a typical suburban neighborhood. This creates a strong bond within what one agency representative called “micro-neighborhoods” within Franklinton.

Furthermore, the residents/stakeholders described some avenues of communication as assets to the community. They emphasized the importance of the neighborhood newspaper published by Gladden Community House, Franklinton News. In addition, residents discussed that most people have smart phones and are active on Facebook which often becomes an important source of neighborhood updates and information. Lastly, word of mouth is essential in Franklinton.

Tying into communication, community centers and common spaces are seen as a definite strength. The local social service agencies, recreation centers, churches, the library and schools provide common ground where residents can gather. All of these locations have a great impact on the atmosphere of the neighborhood and are avenues for easy communication with the masses.

In looking at the role of technology in Franklinton, it is essential to consider these characteristics that are already strengthening the community. One can then explore how different technologies can further grow what has already begun in Franklinton. Yet, it is important to note that these listed assets have their limits and still have room for improvement which is further explained below.

Community Needs

While there was varied response and opinion throughout the needs assessment, many of our interviewees, focus group participants and survey respondents agreed on the following issues that the neighborhood residents face on a regular basis:

Issue	Details/Notes
Safety
Poor lighting	Affects many areas, especially beyond the main roads of the neighborhood are dark, which creates more opportunity for theft, car and house break-ins
Drug-related crimes	The majority of the theft, burglary, homicides and other crimes are related to drugs and substance abuse. Residents expressed their concerns as Mt. Carmel Hospital West has plans to relocate some of their facilities outside of the neighborhood.
Transportation
Nonexistent or poorly maintained sidewalks	Damaged sidewalks generally affect senior or disabled residents who cannot mobilize through the streets easily.
Insufficient bus routes	Current bus routes are not reaching big portions of the neighborhood, causing residents to walk long distances to reach the bus stop. Note: This topic has been ambiguous in focus groups, as some neighbors consider it as a community asset, as they feel that COTA bus operation and routes are according to their expectations.
Food/Health
Lack of grocery store	Lack of purchasing power of the residents deters the arrival of large grocery stores in the neighborhood. Residents resort to corner stores for their purchases which usually offers products at a higher price. However, Lower Lights Christian Health Center has on-going plans to open a non-profit grocery store by August 2016.
Communication
Inefficient community communication channels	Lack of efficient communication between organizations, between organizations and residents and even between residents that do not live close by. Some of the causes mentioned were lack of public phones, lack of continuity of cell phone numbers by the residents and lack of coordination between organizations which causes overlaps in addressing community issues.
Housing
Abandoned houses	Widespread across the neighborhood and lead to higher crime. They are used by criminals to distribute drugs and commit other crimes, as well as affecting the landscape and house prices. One interviewee suggests that the owners of these houses are waiting for government plans to increase housing prices and then sell. The process to solve this issue is lengthy and generally involves court appearances.
General/Home Maintenance	Expressed concern that the rent in Franklinton is higher with respect to other low-income areas. Landlords do not maintain the houses properly: issues with heating, pests (roaches) and appliances were listed as common problems.
Employment
Employment	Residents feel that there are not enough jobs in the community. Furthermore, workforce development for residents is not available, along with efficient tools for job seeking. Residents with criminal records find it especially hard to find decent jobs.

Technology Needs Assessment Survey: Franklinton

Answers Report - Survey 08/04/15

Total Respondents: 38

Questions	Answers	# of responses	Percentage
How often do you use Internet?	Daily	28	74%
	Weekly	2	5%
	Monthly	1	3%
	Never	7	18%
Which device do you mostly use?	Personal Laptop/PC	6	19%
	Mobile phone	23	74%
	Library PC	2	6%
	Other	0	0%
What is the biggest need in Franklinton	Employment	9	24%
	Housing	9	24%
	Food/Health	9	24%
	Safety	7	19%
	Other	3	8%
Technology services needed	Computer and cell phone repair	13	34%
	Appliances repair	15	39%
	Food production	5	13%
	Mobile applications	5	13%
	Other	0	0%

Recommendations/Solution-Matching

Issue	Possible Solutions
Safety
Poor lighting	Solar LED lights Lighting of abandoned homes
Drug-related crimes
Transportation
Nonexistent or poorly maintained sidewalks	Volunteering to fix sidewalks
Insufficient bus routes	Community car or bike sharing, bicycle lock up locations
Food/Health
Lack of grocery store	Rain gardens, greenhouses for produce production
Communication
Inefficient community communication channels	Community mobile application for resource promotion: job postings, community organization programs and announcements More internet access Use billboards in central locations for neighborhood news/announcements Time Banks PC, tablet, mobile phone repair/update
Housing
Abandoned houses
Housing conditions	App for keeping track of landlord payments/receipts, landlord maintenance/exchanges/communication, etc. Appliance repair House insulation diagnosis
Employment
Employment	Basic technology skills education by engineers Resume-building app Entrepreneurship/Business Incubator

Volunteer

Contact us to find out how to volunteer and be part of the engineering and social work conversation!

Potential volunteer opportunities:

Provide your software/app development skills
Help design bicycle modifications for homeless or low-income populations
Assist with needs assessments and program design for underserved areas, agencies or individuals
Participate in CTC events bringing social workers and engineers together to solve today's social problems

Contact Info

Prof. Kevin M. Passino, College of Engineering

Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Director of the Humanitarian Engineering Center

passino.1@osu.edu

Location:

Ohio State University

Humanitarian Engineering Center

Dreese Lab Room 405

Tech4Community

What is Tech4Community

Innovative Technology + Social Work + Community Involvement = Long-term Positive Change

Sponsors

Project Initiation

Intellectual Property and Licensing

The Ohio State University

Local Social Service Agencies

Prof. Kevin M. Passino, College of Engineering

Location: