Eastlake students win Congressional App Challenge with tool aimed at helping homeless youth

The article tells the inspiring story of four Eastlake High School juniors—Kritish Alli, Shaan Kalgaonkar, Winston Luo, and Arindam Sanyal—who created 'StreetsUp,' an innovative app designed to support homeless teens in Washington state. Their project won the Congressional App Challenge for the eighth district, which allowed them to present their work to Congress members and tech industry leaders. The idea for StreetsUp was sparked when one student saw a TikTok video about an 18-year-old experiencing homelessness in Seattle. The app addresses the specific needs of homeless teens, featuring a directory of local resources, a resume writing tool, a donation platform, and a chat function for peer support. This initiative responds to a significant local issue, as over 20,000 students in the state were reported to be homeless during the last school year.

By winning the challenge, the team gained visibility and an opportunity to advocate for homeless youth on a larger scale. They are currently seeking funding for further development and plan to meet with Congresswoman Kim Schrier to discuss their project's future. The team's efforts exemplify how young people can drive change in their communities and tackle pressing social issues.