Compassionate Cities is an initiative to raise awareness about ways communities can reduce suffering and improve the lives of vulnerable populations through the use of digital technologies already being applied to solve other city challenges.
These articles will highlight how technology is helping the homeless, the hungry, the disabled and other people in need around the world.
A smart city uses information and communications technology (ICT) to enhance its livability, workability, and sustainability. In simplest terms, there are three parts to that job: collecting, communicating, and “crunching.” First, a smart city collects information about itself through sensors, other devices, and existing systems. Next, it communicates that data using wired or wireless networks. Third, it “crunches” (analyzes) that data to understand what’s happening now and what’s likely to happen next.
All over the world, smart technologies are transforming cities -- reducing congestion, cutting crime, modernizing the electric grid. Yet far too often, these benefits do not extend to those most in need -- the poor, the disabled, the homeless, those without Internet access. The same smart technologies that improve infrastructure can also improve the human condition.
This is not about a slew of new technologies cities have to budget for; it's about applying existing smart technologies – from data analytics to social media – to improve living standards for all citizens.
As an example, we can look at a pilot in New York City designed to help families before they become homeless. It used existing data - court records, shelter history, demographic information and the alike – and an analytics tool developed by SumAll to identify families at risk of becoming homeless. The information helped social workers decide where to focus their efforts. As a result, 50% more families were connected with eviction prevention services compared to neighborhoods not using the tool.
Today there is growing momentum to promote compassion in urban centers as populations swell and meeting basic needs becomes even more challenging. Charter for Compassion International, for example, encourages cities to commit to the principles of its charter that call for making the well-being of all citizens a priority.
City leaders know what they want to do. They want to solve homelessness and hunger. They want to ensure access to clean water and health services. They want all of their citizens to have a route out of poverty.
The question is how to do it. The answer oftentimes is technology.
To help align on what this means, and so much more, we have developed the Readiness Guide, along with a number of programs and events designed to help you work towards improving sustainability, livability, and workability in your city.