Appified homelessness: Locative media apps as tools for the prevention of homelessness in Poland

Abstract

The paper deals with the issue of homelessness in the context of the application of location-based services in urban spaces. Using a walkthrough method, the article compares two applications that allow citizens to report the presence of homeless persons. In doing so, it discusses the use of mobile applications to address the issue of homeless people and the potential benefits and disadvantages of such applications. The paper also emphasized the need to critically examine the power relations that shape the use of locative media to address homelessness. It also highlights the unequal access to appified culture, which particularly affects the homeless. The article suggests the need for a broader discussion and identification of various aspects of the use of location media in the context of homelessness.