The departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, along with rock star Jon Bon Jovi, announced Reston, Va.-based Qbase is the winner of the Project REACH Developer Challenge.
The challenge, which stands for Real-time Electronic Access for Caregivers and the Homeless, called on developers to create applications that would help the homeless, including those who are veterans, find assistance.
Qbase created the Homeless Reach App, which provides citizens with more than 100,000 listings of homeless aid resources including shelters, kitchens and medical care.
“The idea is that if someone comes across a homeless person and wants to help them, they will have all the resources they need on their smartphone,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.
Bon Jovi, who runs the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation in Monmouth, N.J., created the challenge with then-U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra following a discussion on how information on homeless resources was tough to come by.
“Aneesh told me that technology can solve the problem, and we set out on the best way to do that,” Bon Jovi said April 15.
Qbase was one of five finalists for the $25,000 grand prize.
The company will donate the prize to the Explosive Ordnance Memorial Foundation.
