Home » High School Students Leverage Technology To Promote Homelessness Awareness Through Mobile Game

High School Students Leverage Technology To Promote Homelessness Awareness Through Mobile Game

by Texas Recap Team
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Three high school students—Viraj Sheel and Arnav Gopinath of Stephen F. Austin High School in Sugar Land, Texas, and Konrad Fisher of Michigan—have collaborated to turn an educational board game into a mobile app, using technology as a medium for social change. Their application, Home Of My Own, is now available on the Apple App Store and seeks to broaden public understanding of the causes and complexities of homelessness.

The original Home Of My Own board game was developed by Fort Bend Family Promise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting families experiencing housing instability. The game uses real-life scenarios to explore the precarious pathways that lead to homelessness, emphasizing the impact of issues such as unexpected job loss, healthcare costs, transportation failures, and documentation barriers. These situations are commonly encountered by vulnerable populations but often overlooked in public discourse.

The mobile version of the game was conceptualized and created by the three students, who, despite lacking prior experience in app development, committed themselves to building a digital counterpart that would be both educational and accessible. Their decision to take the game online reflects a broader generational trend—one in which young developers increasingly seek to use technology as a platform for civic awareness and community impact.

In its current version, the app provides users with a simulated decision-making experience that mirrors the board game’s original intent. It incorporates branching narratives and consequence-based interactions that help players understand how easily a family’s stability can be undermined. Additionally, the app includes a built-in “Donate” feature, linking directly to Fort Bend Family Promise and allowing users to contribute to homelessness prevention services.

Throughout the project, the student team received mentorship and encouragement from the Fort Bend Family Promise staff. In particular, Ms. Vera Johnson was acknowledged for providing strategic guidance and continuous support during the app’s development. The students credited the organization with offering not just a concept to work from, but also an environment that fostered growth and creativity.

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The collaborative effort between students and nonprofit professionals was formally recognized at the Fort Bend Family Promise Annual Fundraiser in Fall 2024, where Sheel, Gopinath, and Fisher were honored for their ingenuity and commitment to social good. Their story was also featured in the Fall 2024 issue of Fort Bend ISD Magazine, appearing on page 12.

Speaking on the experience, Sheel noted, “As students, we may not have had all the skills, but we were determined to make a meaningful impact. We are incredibly grateful to Fort Bend Family Promise for giving us the opportunity to transform a simple idea into something that can help raise awareness for such an important cause.”

The mobile app’s purpose-driven design exemplifies the growing potential of youth-led technology projects to address complex societal issues. It also illustrates a broader shift in how civic engagement is practiced—through design, software, and systems thinking rather than solely traditional advocacy channels. While the app itself is still under development and remains in beta, it offers an innovative educational model for understanding homelessness through direct engagement.

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Beyond its educational features, the app is a case study in collaborative innovation. It shows what is possible when emerging developers are paired with mission-driven institutions and encouraged to explore solutions that go beyond conventional formats. The project’s success serves as a model for similar partnerships and underscores the value of including youth perspectives in problem-solving processes that require creativity, empathy, and digital literacy.

The developers emphasize that their work is not about technical perfection but about social contribution. “This was never about perfection. It was about doing something that matters. We hope others are inspired to create, care, and act,” the students shared.

For those interested in learning more, the Home Of My Own demo video is available here, the recognition ceremony can be viewed here, and the feature article appears on page 12 of the FBISD Magazine.

 

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