Authorities in Austin, Texas, are testing a blockchain project aimed at ensuring the city's approximately 7,000 homeless people can easily access services through a digital identity document. The project, called Blockchain, is being developed by the Austin City Council and will be used to track all of Austin's roughly 7,200 unsheltered people. It is hoped the ID system will help speed recipients' access to housing assistance, medical health records and care.
Authorities in Austin, Texas, are testing a blockchain project aimed at ensuring the city's approximately 7,000 homeless people can easily access services through a digital identity document. Backed by a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the four-year scheme will allocate unique identifiers for each individual, which are then entered onto a blockchain. It is hoped the ID system will help speed recipients' access to housing assistance, medical health records and care.