by Isabelle Grace Ballard
Vedant Vohra, 15, a sophomore at the Upper West Side’s private Trinity School, is using technology to try to make a positive difference in the lives of homeless people living on New York City’s streets.
“When you’re walking around, you’re bound to see at least one homeless person, and that’s just not okay,” Vohra told West Side Rag, in a phone interview. Last summer, he used his time off from school to research the problem and find a way to help. The result is Connect the Dots NYC (CTDnyc), an app Vohra developed that he hopes will connect unhoused people with shelter, food, healthcare, and other basic necessities — as well as with their fellow New Yorkers.
“The city has so many great resources that don’t necessarily get communicated to the people who need them the most,” said Frankie Thompkins, who heads the food pantry at Advent Lutheran Church on Broadway and West 93rd Street, where Vohra, an Upper West Sider, volunteers. “If people don’t know about the organizations that are built to help them, then the organizations aren’t as useful as they could be,” Vohra added. “I thought, what if there were an app to connect the organizations with homeless people?”
“The idea is for everyone to have it on their phones and if they see a homeless person to approach them and ask if they need resources and show them what is available, including the location, hours, and distance from where they are,” Vohra explained. “There is also the added benefit of breaking down stereotypes about engaging with people who are homeless; it encourages a short conversation that opens up a dialogue that can really help someone. That’s a life that is changed for the better,” Vohra said, “and that in itself is so valuable.”
So, how did he create an app?
A computer science student, Vohra says he decided to design it himself – something he’d never done. Before tackling the technology piece of the project, he researched homelessness, speaking to representatives of two longstanding nonprofits, The Bowery Mission and Coalition for the Homeless. He was surprised to learn that many homeless people rely on word of mouth to find needed resources, he told the Rag. He wanted to know if that was the only source they had and how reliable it was. To find out, he armed himself with bottles of water, snacks, and a brochure detailing places to go for assistance, then hit the streets to talk to the people he aimed to help. He covered a ten-block radius around his school on West 91st Street, as well as the 72nd Street subway station and Columbus Circle, approaching approximately 20 homeless people. Some declined to talk with him, but “10 were happy to engage in conversation and grateful that someone cared about their well-being,” he said.
He began by asking each person if they wanted or needed help and if they knew how to get it. Many confirmed that they sometimes heard about places “from others on the streets.” Vohra showed them a brochure listing the names and addresses of food pantries and shelters, but, of the 10 people who responded, only one said he knew of a shelter on the list. None knew of any of the other resources for food, healthcare, or hygiene services. Vohra recalls speaking to a man who had been hit by a car years earlier, “who was grateful to learn about healthcare resources as he needed care for his failing knees and wanted also to get a covid test, but didn’t know where to go.
Next, Vohra interviewed about a dozen random Upper West Siders to find out what they thought of the app idea, and if they would actually use it. The general reaction was positive, he said, though one man questioned whether homeless people would want help, which Vohra felt was a valid concern, but had already been disproved by his small sample.
Now, it was time to create the app. Vohra first had to master a new coding language and platform, which he did with YouTube tutorials. It took about 150 hours and five tries before his app was accepted by the Apple App Store. First, they tested it and made suggestions on tweaks it needed, such as making it more visually appealing. Vohra launched CTDnyc on January 6, 2024. He explained that he had to register it under his father’s name because he is a minor.
Finally, Vohra asked parishioners at Advent Lutheran Church to download CTDnyc, use it, and give him feedback. Frankie Thompkins said, “Each time I’ve used the app to help someone, they’ve been extremely grateful. I’ve also already shared it with everyone on my volunteer list as well as other local organizations I partner with.”
Vohra wanted to get the first version of CTDnyc out quickly so people could start using it, but he’s working on an update that will include a Spanish-language version, allow the app to filter by currently open locations, and expand availability to include other app stores. Apple statistics show that CTDnyc already has 25 downloads and one five-star review. “Each and every download is a success because of the impact it can make on someone’s life,” Vohra said.
There’s also the impact it has made on his life. “Something I learned from this experience is if you have an idea, run with it,” he concluded. “The worst that can happen is it doesn’t work, but you never know what can come from one idea.”
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What a thoughtful young man! I foresee good things from him as he gets older.
I really wish that the city would remove those sleeping on sidewalks, etc., and bring them to city provided shelters where they then can learn about city services each night before they go to sleep. Seems to be a much better approach than having citizens take the risk of approaching homeless people who are not asking for help. The app is well-intended and kudos to the young man who wrote it.
I love the simplicity but it doesn’t work that way . Think about it a little , if you were sleeping on the street what would make you want to overlook shelters to choose the street . Perhaps there can be an increase on the taxes collected from wealthy upper west sides to ensure safety and security within the housing and shelter system . The key is not only to temporarily shelter or house homeless people but to have them to place value on their own lives by giving them reasonable work so they can find purpose, value and independence. A lot of the problem with these shelters and SROs are they don’t allow for economic advancement and independence. Let’s create a system that tags a job to these housing schemes and we can fix the issue .
I doubt very much that the problem is finding the homeless “reasonable work”. There is a ton of reasonable work in the city for anyone who wants to work. The problem is multi-faceted. And anyone would eyes can confirm that one of the biggest problems is mental health. Those suffering from mental health need care, actual care, with safe environments. They shouldn’t be living on the streets first and foremost, and especially not bothering people and disturbing the peace which is a common occurence throughout the day where I live. As for those who are not suffering from mental health problems, there really is little to explain why at this point they have not availed themselves of “reasonable work” and taken adavantage of the myriad resources of city assistance that this young person shows on his app. My opinion is that the city should provide decent and safe homeless shelters and prevent people from sleeping on the streets.
Not having a steady address interferes greatly in getting a job. Also, there are lots of homeless people who do work. There was an article a while ago about how many city workers were homeless sleeping in their cars and in shelters. There’s a lot more than you’d think.
Here’s the link: https://nypost.com/2015/09/21/hundreds-of-full-time-city-workers-are-homeless/
Along the same lines as what happened to the man focused on in that article, just think of what happens to those who were at one time living in public housing in manhattan and then lose that apartment for a number of reasons, including getting kicked out for some reason, relationship soured, grew older and the space could no longer hold 4-5 adults but was ok when they were kids? Where do such people go when the average 1br where they’ve lived all their lives costs $3500 a month and they have no savings to relocate to a less expenisve part of the country? One has to wonder how many of the homeless on the streets of NYC had public housing as the residence immediately before becoming homeless.
Do you know how dangerous shelters are?
I’m not sure how the safety of shelters has anything to do with my point. If shelters are unsafe, that only means that the city needs to start enforcing laws and to provide the security to make them safe.
Does anyone have info on the homeless man(John) who has lived for 10+ years on the corner of W 85th St/Broadway? Not been seen in a month.?
In most cases interacting with random people is extremely dangerous, sure there are exceptions but it’s just not worth the risk. Many homeless people are homeless because of mental illness.
I feel the same way. My heart breaks for each and every homeless person living on the streets but I won’t risk my own safety in engaging directly. If the app had an option to connect the homeless with a qualified outreach provider I think this would be a big improvement.
Surely people can use their own judgment. Many homeless people are homeless because they don’t have any money, and many people are mentally ill without being dangerous. If you think “interacting with random people is extremely dangerous,” I’m not sure how you even manage getting around the city!
Sarah,
There are all kind of situations….
There are people on the street who are not homeless (such as my former neighbor who panhandled but lived with his mother).
Or my elementary school friend who has been homeless off and on for years though his family has helped him and begged him to get evaluated, go to rehab.
And at this point his family will no longer allow him in their homes….
We NYers get around by not interacting, you may have noticed.
Since when does getting around the city necessitate interacting verbally with random people. I’m not sure I understand what you are trying to say. To ignore the obvious fact to everyone that so many of the people wandering the streets are not mentally ill and possibly violent is to just ignore the obvious. Are all homeless violent or mentally ill, of course not. But there IS a risk and that risk is what the OP was suggesting was not worth taking.
“Since when does getting around the city necessitate interacting verbally with random people.”
Since when does it not? Do you literally speak to no one you don’t already know as you move about the city? What a strange way to live.
There are certainly people out there whom I would use my judgment with respect to and not interact with. People who seem extremely distressed–but also drunk packs of bros wandering the streets on weekend nights. (The average young woman out in a bar on a weekend night is in considerably more danger from the men around her than she is from the homeless on the street she may pass on her way.) The suggestion that one is taking one’s life in one’s hands if one speaks to a “random person,” much less an unhoused one, just makes me sad.
I personally have been acosted 3 times simply walking BY homeless people and each time felt that I was very close to being assaulted. I was followed, yelled at and threatened. I don’t think I’m alone. If that happened to me just by walking by and not saying a word, I think that’s enough info for me to agree with the OP. If you feel its perfectly safe to start interacting with random homeless people, please do, but at least respect those of us who don’t want to take the risk. There’s no point in making us who feel that way seem strange or out of touch. People have different tolerances for risk.
What an amazing person. Great idea
Well done young man! You have a good heart and a great mind!
Well done,Vedant.👏 This is the type of tool that can be so useful not only in your community but, could have positive impact virtually anywhere homelessness exists. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and actions.
Brilliant idea. And perhaps you can add where underserved people can get meals and/or groceries. A lot of people don’t know how many food banks are available. And I know during the summer when I volunteer at one of these food banks many people don’t know there are places for everyone under 18 to get breakfast and lunch even when school is in summer recess.
Very encouraging to learn a 15 year old cared enough to find a solution to a huge problem and created this life-altering app. Wonder how non-profits, offering services, can be added as providers, and when the app will be available for android users.
Thank you so much for your comment. The release of the app on android is certainly one of my future goals.
This is great, Vidant. I work with recently, arrived asylum seekers, and help them fill out their paperwork. Another place I volunteer at distributes clothing, free of charge to recent arrivals. Spanish and French translation, are available to them. The ones I work with are Spanish speakers, and so the sooner you can get your brilliant software translated into Spanish, the faster I will be able to give these recent arrivals the materials that you are making available to them. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Innovation is critical to solving all problems. Great step in the right direction. I wonder if the info on this app could be accessed at the digital charging stations and call towers throughout the city? It could be displayed on a rotating cycle almost like subway maps, other advertisements. Word of mouth could lead to unhoused population knowing where to look for up to date resources.
Thank you so much for this amazing idea. I will do my best to implement this.
Congrats to Vedant, for his creativity and caring!
Would someone from WSR be able to put me in contact with Mr. Vohra? I would love to talk more with him about this app.
Thank you so much for the comment, you can reach me at my email: vvohra.ctd@gmail.com
I admire this young man enormously! God bless him for his kindness, sympathy, and using his gift of intelligence to help people in need!
Downloaded.
I go into this knowing that I may not be able to interact with everyone but there are some homeless who aren’t threatening and/or mentally ill.
For times when I can’t buy someone a meal I can use this app to help in another way. There are resources on the app that I’ve never heard of. Good job!
Kudos to this young man’s app project as his story shines with imagination, creativity and compassion.
To further assist the generalized angst and feeling of powerlessness so many of us feel about homeless in our city, I think it would be hugely helpful to see and hear more publicity about the heroic organizations–many working for decades–who are regularly making differences we are not aware of–to attract more of the support sorely needed.
So, after reading this article, I was prompted to Google:
“most effective organizations helping the homeless + NYC”
The search turned up 11 organizations–most of which were
also featured in a Dec. 2023 article in Time Out… Check out your own results and this informative and wonderful Time Out article:
https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/where-to-volunteer-homelessness
If we know what IS helping, we can surely contribute or volunteer
in this manner. Mainly, I hope also some young people might take on
article writing topics publicizing
motivating personal stories and “positive news” to rev up more bright energy to help in any way.
Maybe even some student or student research team (in high school or college)may take on the surely thorny topic of how can these shelters be made truly safe havens, as their reputation on the street seems to be abysmal. Or–even better–how about a student-made website to post success stories, and AND how to help
the best organizations? Some actions of helping–like giving great things and buying from Housing Works is surely a very easy one!
Vohra,thank you so much for creating this. I think there is a coalition of the churches throughout the City who do services for homeless and connecting to them might expotentially increase the number of people using your app and helping homeless individuals.
Oh look, a teen making a positive difference and loving his fellow human, unlike so many adults who are so inhumane about and toward unsheltered people.
A role model for young and old. He uses his intelligent, creative talents and combines them with compassion, and,, in a truly remarkable fashion, ACTS. Moe people should be like him-trying to find solutions to a horrendous, most challenging problem.
Congratulations Verdant. You have a bright future ahead of you. We are lucky to have you in our community.
Kudos to Vedant Vohra for taking the lead on this. Anything that helps people know about resources can only be a good thing. And the plan to have it in Spanish is great…possibly other languages as well?
Thank you so much for your suggestion. I will not be stopping at just Spanish, however it just proved the easiest to start with as I can speak the language.
GOOD IDEA. POOR IMPLEMENTATION AND POOR ADVICE. DON’T APPROACH HOMELESS! PLS…..These tips are from Project Homeless Connect (PNC) Outreach Walk:
Stay in Groups of Two.
o One person “engaging” with the homeless person, one person on “lookout” and staying
aware. You may switch roles between interactions. This depends on the situation around
you. PNC outreach walks are conducted in the Tenderloin neighborhood where the buddy
system is beneficial.
Don’t…
1. Offer Housing.
There is limited availability in NYC
2. Wake People.
o Sleep is a very precious commodity when you are experiencing homelessness. Please do
not disturb people if they appear to be asleep.
3. Offer Personal Information, Belongings, or Money to Homeless persons.
o During the outreach walks, you are volunteers of PHC,and we have a strict policy accepting
or giving gifts to homeless people. Offering money outside of PHC volunteering is up to
you.
4. Accept Gifts or Money from a Homeless Person.
5. Attempt to Assess the Homeless Person’s Need (your app assumes they no food but iphones?!!)
o Refer a homeless person to PHC and our services. Our team of specialists are equipped
to assess and assist people experiencing homelessness.
6. Touch Individuals or Their Belongings.
o When approaching a homeless person, imagine sitting in your living room and having a
stranger walk in your front door and attempting to engage you, that is what you are doing
with the homeless persons you are meeting today. Be kind, polite, and aware of everyone’s
personal space.
7. Push lt.
o If someone isn’t interested in talking with you, thank them for their time and walk awayThese tips are from Project Homeless Connect (PNC) Outreach Walk
MANY HAVE MENTAL ILLNESSES – Leave it to the trained.
BRAVO! This App needs to be posted on the NYC message boards that are on every corner. It’s wonderful to see his compassion in action!