Halo
Helping homeless people find jobs and rebuild their lives.
NOV 2024 - FEB 2025
Hope
During an internship in Baltimore, I worked with a non-profit supporting people experiencing homelessness in finding employment.
I thought I understood their situation until I started listening. The more time I spent with them, the more I realized they weren’t defined by their circumstances. They were determined to change.
The real barrier wasn’t effort. It was the system around them.
From a passerby's perspective
Many people find it difficult to return to society after losing their jobs because of prejudice and the lack of a fixed place to live, even if they are able to.
Person A
The government spends too much on homeless programs—money should go toward creating jobs, not just aid.
Person B
Hiring costs are rising, and even higher pay can’t attract workers.
Homeless
I lost my job during the pandemic, but I’m still trying despite fewer opportunities.
Field Research
Through my research, I found that the majority of homeless individuals own a smart phone.
Field Research
70% of labor does not require skills, but is still very expensive, and also under staff shortage
Why mobile Platform?
Based on our research, over 65% of people in shelters own smartphones, most of which are Android devices. Shelters also provide public charging stations, making mobile access relatively reliable.
Although some shelters offer desktop computers, phones are more convenient and accessible anytime. In addition, our system requires real-name verification and location services, making a mobile app more suitable than a website.
Therefore, we chose Android as the platform for our MVP.
Whats current app doing & Why they are not helping homeless
Most of jobs Job Require an Address
Most job platforms need a fixed address which homeless individuals don’t have, blocking them from opportunities.
Lack of Reintegration Support
Existing homeless aid apps focus on survival (food, shelters) but rarely help them regain independence through jobs and long-term solutions.
Insights from Shelter Interviews
Over 30% of homeless individuals actively seek work but face systemic barriers. Many lost housing due to unemployment, medical debt, or family issues. While shelters offer short-term help, long-term solutions should prioritize jobs and stability.
After discussions, we decided to first assist those who have the ability and confidence to reintegrate into society. However, our service-based resources will remain accessible to everyone,
DeAndre
He was fired about two years ago, he became homeless, and then his wife left him. From then on he began to wander on the street, living on relief and make money by cleaning the car windows of people passing by on the street.
Samuel
Currently doing some work such as yard keeping to make ends meet. He lives in his car with his 3 children in his family, and works very hard every day. He came to America with his dad, his dad lives with his bad friends in a very old apartment in Baltimore, they take drugs every day.
Reginald (Main focus)
He was an office worker before, but lost his job during the epidemic because the company went bankrupt. He is now applying for jobs everywhere, trying to find another job, but because he is not very professional, it is difficult to find.
Initial Mind Map
I led a collaborative design sprint with designers, researchers, homeless individuals, and field experts. Together, we identified key insights and implemented meaningful design changes to better support homeless reintegration.
Storyboard
Wireframe
Based on our mind maps, we started with the initial wireframe
Iteration
We have updated many design elements and steps.During our testing of the app, We simplified the user flow for the homeless,enhanced the hierarchy, and adopted blue as our theme color.
How we ensure the safety and trust for both side?
Why it is a Two-Sided Rating System?
Initially, the platform only allowed employers to rate homeless workers. However, after conducting A/B testing, I found that homeless users were more concerned about whether the employer was trustworthy.
Based on this insight, I proposed a two-sided rating system, where both employers and workers can review each other. This helps users identify reliable employers and builds a more transparent and trustworthy ecosystem.
I presented this proposal to the PM and successfully pushed the feature into the product design.
Point system function & UI upgrade
The redesigned workflow simplifies job searching by introducing a conversational interface where users can quickly describe their needs instead of manually browsing listings. AI analyzes user profiles, availability, skills, and location to recommend the most suitable tasks in real time. This improves usability by reducing search time, increasing match accuracy, and enabling users to move from discovery to application in just a few steps.
Removed In-App Map Integration
Based on user feedback, we eliminated the custom map feature and instead leveraged the built-in mapping functionalities of mobile devices. This ensures a more seamless and familiar navigation experience while reducing technical overhead.
Simplified Job Search with AI Assistance
Through user testing, we observed that many homeless individuals were less proactive in searching for opportunities. To address this, we streamlined the job search process by integrating AI-driven recommendations, automatically matching users with suitable tasks based on their profile and skill level. This reduces friction and increases engagement.
How we promote user’s self motivation
Challenges in Reintegration
At first, I believed the solution was simple—help people experiencing homelessness find jobs so they could earn money and leave homelessness.
However, through my research, I found that many face significant barriers even before job searching, such as lack of confidence, social stigma, and limited life skills.
This discovery led me to shift the direction of the project, focusing not only on job placement but also on providing step-by-step support to help users gradually rebuild stability and reintegrate into society.
Design System
High-fidelity Prototypes
Self-motivation booster UX Design
Physical Solution
Based on my previous research, a small portion of homeless individuals do not have access to mobile phones. To ensure they can still access important resources, I designed physical brochures and posters that provide essential information in an accessible and easy-to-understand format. These materials help bridge the gap and connect them with available services and opportunities.
Self reflection
For individuals do not meet the our verification
Based on user feedback, we eliminated the custom map feature and instead leveraged the built-in mapping functionalities of mobile devices. This ensures a more seamless and familiar navigation experience while reducing technical overhead.
The Need for Government & Charity Support
For individuals who do not meet our verification requirements, access to social benefit resources will still be available to ensure they receive essential support. However, participation in the work system will be temporarily restricted. Their access to employment opportunities will remain locked until they successfully complete our verification process or meet the eligibility criteria set by our partnered charity organizations.
Halo
Helping homeless people find jobs and rebuild their lives.
UX Design
UX Research
UX Iteration
NOV 2024-
FEB 2025
Spencer Qiao (UX Designer)
Mike Wang (Researcher)
Andre Davidson (PM)
Kevin Pham (UX Designer)
Chris Taylor (Engineer)
Dillon Harding (Engineer)
Hope
During an internship in Baltimore, I worked with a non-profit supporting people experiencing homelessness in finding employment.
I thought I understood their situation until I started listening. The more time I spent with them, the more I realized they weren’t defined by their circumstances. They were determined to change.
The real barrier wasn’t effort. It was the system around them.
From a passerby's perspective
Many people find it difficult to return to society after losing their jobs because of prejudice and the lack of a fixed place to live, even if they are able to.
Person A
The government spends too much on homeless programs—money should go toward creating jobs, not just aid.
Person B
Hiring costs are rising, and even higher pay can’t attract workers.
Homeless
I lost my job during the pandemic, but I’m still trying despite fewer opportunities.
Field Research
Through my research, I found that the majority of homeless individuals own a smart phone.
This map is an interactive list of resources for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including emergency shelters, resource centers, health care, and meal sites.
Maryland government provides sufficient welfare facilities, but they lack programs to help individuals reintegrate into society.
Workforce shortage in MD
70% of labor does not require skills, but is still very expensive, and also under staff shortage
1. High Hourly Rate
2. Workforce Shortage
This map is an interactive list of resources for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including emergency shelters, resource centers, health care, and meal sites.
Maryland government provides sufficient welfare facilities, but they lack programs to help individuals reintegrate into society.
Why mobile Platform?
Based on our research, over 65% of people in shelters own smartphones, most of which are Android devices. Shelters also provide public charging stations, making mobile access relatively reliable.
Although some shelters offer desktop computers, phones are more convenient and accessible anytime. In addition, our system requires real-name verification and location services, making a mobile app more suitable than a website.
Therefore, we chose Android as the platform for our MVP.
Whats current app doing & Why they are not helping homeless
Most of jobs Job Require an Address
Most job platforms need a fixed address which homeless individuals don’t have, blocking them from opportunities.
Lack of Reintegration Support
Existing homeless aid apps focus on survival (food, shelters) but rarely help them regain independence through jobs and long-term solutions.
Insights from Shelter Interviews
Over 30% of homeless individuals actively seek work but face systemic barriers. Many lost housing due to unemployment, medical debt, or family issues. While shelters offer short-term help, long-term solutions should prioritize jobs and stability.
After discussions, we decided to first assist those who have the ability and confidence to reintegrate into society. However, our service-based resources will remain accessible to everyone,
DeAndre
He was fired about two years ago, he became homeless, and then his wife left him. From then on he began to wander on the street, living on relief and make money by cleaning the car windows of people passing by on the street.
Samuel
Currently doing some work such as yard keeping to make ends meet. He lives in his car with his 3 children in his family, and works very hard every day. He came to America with his dad, his dad lives with his bad friends in a very old apartment in Baltimore, they take drugs every day.
Reginald (Main focus)
He was an office worker before, but lost his job during the epidemic because the company went bankrupt. He is now applying for jobs everywhere, trying to find another job, but because he is not very professional, it is difficult to find.
Initial Mind Map
I led a collaborative design sprint with designers, researchers, homeless individuals, and field experts. Together, we identified key insights and implemented meaningful design changes to better support homeless reintegration.
Storyboard
Our goal is to help homeless individuals reintegrate into society by providing opportunities to earn money through meaningful work while als offering access to essential social benefits.
Wireframe
Based on our mind maps, we started with the initial wireframe
Iteration
We have updated many design elements and steps.During our testing of the app, We simplified the user flow for the homeless,enhanced the hierarchy, and adopted blue as our theme color.
How we ensure the safety and trust for both side?
Issue during testing
During testing, we identified a critical issue: the homeless population includes individuals who may be unsafe, with some experiencing mental instability or substance abuse. This raises significant safety concerns for both participants and the broader community, requiring a structured screening and verification process.
Points System
To address this, we have implemented a level-based assessment system that categorizes individuals based on their readiness for work. This system helps identify those who are prepared for immediate opportunities while offering support and guidance to those who need further rehabilitation before entering the workforce.
Level 1 (0 pts)
Verified by local welfare organizations; eligible for basic support and supervised group activities.
Level 2 (0–200 pts)
Assessed as having basic work capacity; can participate in supervised community or maintenance tasks for pay.
Level 3 (200+ pts)
Demonstrated reliability and experience; ready to take independent job opportunities from private employers.
Security operation
Both parties must simultaneously click to start and finish the work; if either party fails to do so within 3 minutes, a confirmation call will be made to ensure safety.
Why it is a Two-Sided Rating System?
Initially, the platform only allowed employers to rate homeless workers. However, after conducting A/B testing, I found that homeless users were more concerned about whether the employer was trustworthy.
Based on this insight, I proposed a two-sided rating system, where both employers and workers can review each other. This helps users identify reliable employers and builds a more transparent and trustworthy ecosystem.
I presented this proposal to the PM and successfully pushed the feature into the product design.
Point system function & UI upgrade
The redesigned workflow simplifies job searching by introducing a conversational interface where users can quickly describe their needs instead of manually browsing listings. AI analyzes user profiles, availability, skills, and location to recommend the most suitable tasks in real time. This improves usability by reducing search time, increasing match accuracy, and enabling users to move from discovery to application in just a few steps.
Removed In-App Map Integration
Based on user feedback, we eliminated the custom map feature and instead leveraged the built-in mapping functionalities of mobile devices. This ensures a more seamless and familiar navigation experience while reducing technical overhead.
Simplified Job Search with AI Assistance
Through user testing, we observed that many homeless individuals were less proactive in searching for opportunities. To address this, we streamlined the job search process by integrating AI-driven recommendations, automatically matching users with suitable tasks based on their profile and skill level. This reduces friction and increases engagement.
How we promote user’s self motivation
Challenges in Reintegration
At first, I believed the solution was simple—help people experiencing homelessness find jobs so they could earn money and leave homelessness.
However, through my research, I found that many face significant barriers even before job searching, such as lack of confidence, social stigma, and limited life skills.
This discovery led me to shift the direction of the project, focusing not only on job placement but also on providing step-by-step support to help users gradually rebuild stability and reintegrate into society.
Design System
High-fidelity Prototypes
Self-motivation booster UX Design
The Self-Motivation Booster UX Design allows users to set their own ultimate goal, such as securing stable housing or saving for a specific need. The app then tracks their earnings and progress, helping them stay motivated by visualizing their savings growth and step-by-step achievements toward their goal.
Physical Solution
Based on my previous research, a small portion of homeless individuals do not have access to mobile phones. To ensure they can still access important resources, I designed physical brochures and posters that provide essential information in an accessible and easy-to-understand format. These materials help bridge the gap and connect them with available services and opportunities.
Self reflection
For individuals do not meet the our verification
Based on user feedback, we eliminated the custom map feature and instead leveraged the built-in mapping functionalities of mobile devices. This ensures a more seamless and familiar navigation experience while reducing technical overhead.
The Need for Government & Charity Support
For individuals who do not meet our verification requirements, access to social benefit resources will still be available to ensure they receive essential support. However, participation in the work system will be temporarily restricted. Their access to employment opportunities will remain locked until they successfully complete our verification process or meet the eligibility criteria set by our partnered charity organizations.
