DARK AI
Web + SMS
Resource Network
Instant access to shelter, food, and support through a privacy-first AI SMS system.
Team 118�Dolphin Tran • Adrian Aguilar • Rahwa Woldu • Karina Haddad
AI Disclosure
The Challenge:
Accessing Help Is Hard
The Challenge:
Accessing Help Is Hard
One Number. Instant Answers.
DARK - An interaction model of users and providers through an artificial intelligent powered chatbot and database system, implemented through the offline short message service (SMS).
Open Rates
98%
WHY SMS?
Short message service (SMS) - a text messaging technology that depends on subscriber identity module(SIM) and and access to a cellular connection
Easy Access
Independent Guidance
Higher Mobility
CONVERSATION
↓↑
SYSTEM
↓↑
NETWORK
The Conversation: How a User Interacts With DARK AI SMS
The Conversation
The System
[User SMS] ⇄ [SMS Gateway / Twilio API] ⇄ [AI Logic Layer] ⇄ [Resource Database]
The Network
AI helping people❌
—-------------------—
People helping people through AI✅
Ethics, Privacy & Safety
• Anonymous IDs instead of names
• Providers only see relevant resource-request data
• No location tracking unless user opts in
• Users can delete their data at any time
• No storage of personal phone numbers
• System prevents misuse (spam, impersonation, false alerts)
Implementation Plan
Phase 2 - Pilot Launch
Phase 1 - Getting Approved & System Functionality
• Twilio SMS, Airtable/Firebase DB, Provider Dashboard
• Partnerships with 211, RTFH, DSDP
• Pilot shelters onboard
• Deploy in Downtown SD
• Monitor daily usage + provider updates
• Refine AI responses and routing
Phase 3 - Regional Scale
• Expand across San Diego County
• Add food banks, clinics, hygiene centers
• Provider automation for real-time bed counts
Phase 4 - Continuous Improvement & Expansion
• Add multilingual support
• Add optional virtual case worker features
• Integrate with county systems for long-term outcomes
Next Steps To Success
CONVERSATION
↓↑
SYSTEM
↓↑
NETWORK
Dark AI Alert System
Project Resources
Background on Homelessness
• Homelessness: The Reality and the Solution – Short Documentary
• National Coalition for the Homeless: https://nationalhomeless.org/homelessness-in-the-us/
Government Data – San Diego
• City of San Diego Community Action Plan on Homelessness
Research and Collaboration Sources
• Big Data Hackathon: Spatiotemporal Analysis of Homelessness in the U.S. Border Region
• Homelessness and Health Report: https://nhchc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08
/homelessness-and-health.pdf
• We Cannot Treat What Is Not Known – Importance of screening for housing status
• Preventing Homelessness – Evidence based screening in Los Angeles
Tools
• Data Sharing Guide for Health and Homeless Systems
• Chatgpt + Gemini
• Healthy Places Index: https://map.healthyplacesindex.org/?redirect=false
• SANDAG GIS Portal: https://geo.sandag.org/portal/apps/experiencebuilder/experience/?id
=fad9e9c038c84f799b5378e4cc3ed068#data_s=id%3AdataSource_1-0%3A165
• SMS system explanation
• Figma
• SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach Access and Recovery)
Rahwa Woldu
Karina Haddad
Dolphin Tran
Adrian Aguilar
Thank you, Big Data Hackathon, for the incredible opportunity to work on such a complex and critical challenge affecting our community.
We hope you will consider our recommendation. Thank you again for this opportunity, and we thank the judges for their time.
Thank you
Big Data Hackathon!