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Archive link: https://web.archive.org/web/20230528215550/https://cryptoforthehomeless.com/about/ https://web.archive.org/web/20230528215550/https://cryptofor...

Archive link: https://web.archive.org/web/20230528215550/https://cryptoforthehomeless.com/about/ https://web.archive.org/web/20230528215550/https://cryptofor... Okay, well this is not what I initially suspected, it's a program to allow people with crypto to donate to volunteers who are going out on the streets and offering food and care packages to the homeless. This seems good. For some additional discussion context I looked up the platform from the Oakland Homeless Advocacy Working Group: https://www.shelteroak.org/hawg.html https://www.shelteroak.org/hawg.html I wanted to provide a summary but I realize I am late and need to head out. Taking a quick look, it seems that the latter group is focused more on legal measures to legalize encampments and work on supportive infrastructure and city-provided resources for these groups. I am sure that a combination of direct volunteer support and broader legal efforts can go hand in hand in supporting people without traditional housing.

CyberDildonics 3y ago
Okay, well what did you think it was, giving cryptocurrency directly to homeless people?
- codetrotter 3y ago
  It would make sense. Kind of. One of the many problems with the banks is that they may require you have an address you call home, in order to open, and keep, a bank account. Bitcoin can, among other things, bank the unbanked. Too bad grocery stores, and most other businesses, don’t accept Bitcoin as payment. And keep in mind, many people are homeless without being drug users. So even buying drugs, which is one of the things Bitcoin is most suited for, is not super helpful to many homeless people. Anyway. If giving Bitcoin to the homeless does not help them, it’s nice to see that there is a way that Bitcoin can be used for helping the homeless directly. Namely by donations which can be turned into foods and other things given directly to the homeless.
  - troupo 3y ago
    > Bitcoin can, among other things, bank the unbanked. > Too bad grocery stores, and most other businesses, don’t accept Bitcoin as payment. This means that Bitcoin cannot bank the unbanked (and it never could). I also wonder how you would "bank the unbanked" by requiring them to have an internet-connected smartphone to even be able to be banked by Bitcoin. Edit Smartphone or other internet connected device
    - tyrust 3y ago
      > requiring them to have an internet-connected smartphone to even be able to be banked by Bitcoin An internet connection is not required to hold a private key. A hardware wallet would probably make the most sense.
      - troupo 3y ago
        And they would be able to acquire that hardware wallet and get money into it how exactly?
        polygamous_bat 3y ago
        And how would you create a transaction without access to internet or a fairly modern device?
        yieldcrv 3y ago
        one party has to have an internet connection, eventually. you can trade signed transactions around like a file for a long time and then someone else goes to the internet cafe to bulk upload eventually. no different than the practice of bundling credit card transactions together to reduce static fees, or settling a bunch of checks at the end of some time interval. it is a temporary trusted environment in all of those systems including bitcoin, no big deal. keep track of anybody whose payment failed. bitcoin transactions can be signed and traded where only one party has an internet connection. bitcoin transactions can be signed and traded where neither party has an internet connection. it just has to be broadcast and added to the chain eventually. so even in a world without ubiquitous internet this concept doesn't go away, it will always exist in some form or anybody can recreate it or perpetuate a blockchain that has fallen into disuse.
- tourmalinetaco 3y ago
  Personally I thought it was cryptography at first and was even more confused.
- kristopolous 3y ago
  Yes. This is crypto we're talking about here, there's really no guardrails.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- TaylorAlexander 3y ago
  Yes, which I would have thought was misguided. As an outsider, we have seen so many asinine crypto projects in the last few years I am quite jaded about the whole thing.
  - CyberDildonics 3y ago
    Okay, well at least it is a charity that might do some good and help people.
  - kvee 3y ago
    When NFTs were hot, we made one that was intentionally tasteless thinking that it could raise awareness for people to donate to effective charities (pretending it was NFTs for needy children, but actually the proceeds from NFTs would go to the Against Malaria Foundation), but never could really get the whole thing right so decided not to launch it. If anyone has an idea to actually execute that original idea right and do some good net net, here's the website: https://nftsforstarvingchildren.com/ https://nftsforstarvingchildren.com/
    - TaylorAlexander 3y ago
      I think making effective use of viral moments is just hard.
zoklet-enjoyer 3y ago
It was pretty cool when this was going on https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapple_Fund https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapple_Fund
troyvit 3y ago
Wow thanks for this summary. I need to go redirect some snark now.

CyberDildonics 3y ago

Okay, well what did you think it was, giving cryptocurrency directly to homeless people?

codetrotter 3y ago
It would make sense. Kind of. One of the many problems with the banks is that they may require you have an address you call home, in order to open, and keep, a bank account. Bitcoin can, among other things, bank the unbanked. Too bad grocery stores, and most other businesses, don’t accept Bitcoin as payment. And keep in mind, many people are homeless without being drug users. So even buying drugs, which is one of the things Bitcoin is most suited for, is not super helpful to many homeless people. Anyway. If giving Bitcoin to the homeless does not help them, it’s nice to see that there is a way that Bitcoin can be used for helping the homeless directly. Namely by donations which can be turned into foods and other things given directly to the homeless.
- troupo 3y ago
  > Bitcoin can, among other things, bank the unbanked. > Too bad grocery stores, and most other businesses, don’t accept Bitcoin as payment. This means that Bitcoin cannot bank the unbanked (and it never could). I also wonder how you would "bank the unbanked" by requiring them to have an internet-connected smartphone to even be able to be banked by Bitcoin. Edit Smartphone or other internet connected device
  - tyrust 3y ago
    > requiring them to have an internet-connected smartphone to even be able to be banked by Bitcoin An internet connection is not required to hold a private key. A hardware wallet would probably make the most sense.
    - troupo 3y ago
      And they would be able to acquire that hardware wallet and get money into it how exactly?
      - polygamous_bat 3y ago
        And how would you create a transaction without access to internet or a fairly modern device?
        yieldcrv 3y ago
        one party has to have an internet connection, eventually. you can trade signed transactions around like a file for a long time and then someone else goes to the internet cafe to bulk upload eventually. no different than the practice of bundling credit card transactions together to reduce static fees, or settling a bunch of checks at the end of some time interval. it is a temporary trusted environment in all of those systems including bitcoin, no big deal. keep track of anybody whose payment failed. bitcoin transactions can be signed and traded where only one party has an internet connection. bitcoin transactions can be signed and traded where neither party has an internet connection. it just has to be broadcast and added to the chain eventually. so even in a world without ubiquitous internet this concept doesn't go away, it will always exist in some form or anybody can recreate it or perpetuate a blockchain that has fallen into disuse.
tourmalinetaco 3y ago
Personally I thought it was cryptography at first and was even more confused.
kristopolous 3y ago
Yes. This is crypto we're talking about here, there's really no guardrails.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
TaylorAlexander 3y ago
Yes, which I would have thought was misguided. As an outsider, we have seen so many asinine crypto projects in the last few years I am quite jaded about the whole thing.
- CyberDildonics 3y ago
  Okay, well at least it is a charity that might do some good and help people.
- kvee 3y ago
  When NFTs were hot, we made one that was intentionally tasteless thinking that it could raise awareness for people to donate to effective charities (pretending it was NFTs for needy children, but actually the proceeds from NFTs would go to the Against Malaria Foundation), but never could really get the whole thing right so decided not to launch it. If anyone has an idea to actually execute that original idea right and do some good net net, here's the website: https://nftsforstarvingchildren.com/ https://nftsforstarvingchildren.com/
  - TaylorAlexander 3y ago
    I think making effective use of viral moments is just hard.

zoklet-enjoyer 3y ago

It was pretty cool when this was going on https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapple_Fund https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapple_Fund

troyvit 3y ago

Wow thanks for this summary. I need to go redirect some snark now.