Llum Social: Connecting People Experiencing Homelessness to Essential Services

Llum Social aims to digitize support for people experiencing homelessness by centralising essential resources and players within a single platform. Through our app, they can locate nearby services on an interactive map and access services prepaid by customers of our partner businesses. An integrated admin platform enables social organisations to manage resources efficiently and digitise social interventions for most vulnerable populations.

Llum Social aims to address the social and digital exclusion faced by the most vulnerable communities, particularly people experiencing homelessness. In Spain, over 37,000 people face homelessness (Hogar Sí, key organisation in dealing with homelessness in Spain), but homelessness goes even beyond. In 2024, more than 55,000 migrants arrived irregularly by sea (Ministry of the Interior in Spain), often lacking immediate access to housing and resources.​

Despite many homeless individuals owning smartphones, technology still remains underutilised in connecting them to available social services, limiting their autonomy and integration process. Information about services, rights, and resources is often fragmented, outdated and inaccessible. Existing resources and services are not always accessible, and administrative procedures are frequently unknown or poorly understood. For instance, 49% of people experiencing homelessness are unaware of their entitlement to the Minimum Vital Income (IMV) (Hogar Sí, 2021).

Beyond this lack of information, this vulnerable population also faces significant discrimination. A 2022 study by the Spanish Red Cross revealed that 68.3% of people experiencing homelessness have experienced aporophobia–the rejection of poor and disadvantaged people–and over half have been victims of a crime or assault (Spanish national statistics institute–INE, 2022). Such social exclusion exacerbates isolation and hinders reintegration efforts.

Llum Social is a comprehensive solution that combines technology, collaboration, and support for social organisations. The solution comprises two main components: a user-friendly mobile application for individuals experiencing homelessness and an administrative platform for social organizations.​

Mobile app for people experiencing homelessness

Our mobile app is designed to provide people facing homelessness with easy and direct access to the resources and services available around them. The app features an interactive map displaying nearby essential services, including shelters, food banks, Wi-Fi hotspots, public restrooms, and water fountains. Users can also access guides and emergency contacts.​

Beyond information, the app enables users to access prepaid services—such as meals, haircuts, or laundry—at partner businesses. These services are booked and redeemed through QR codes within the app, promoting autonomy and reducing stigma.​

Network of partner shops

Llum Social aims to create an extensive network of local partner shops allowing customers to prepay for services for those in need. Businesses manage their profiles, their information, the availability of items, the reservation hours, and scan reservation QR codes through the app. 

Administrative platform for social organisations

The management of resources and services is centralised in a platform specifically designed for organisations working with vulnerable groups and people facing homelessness. This platform centralizes the management of resources, guides, and partner networks. In this way, social intervention is centralised in a single platform that facilitates coordination across the key players involved.

In July 2023, Llum Social’s prototype was validated, leading to a pilot launch in September 2024 in Palma, Mallorca, as part of the CRECE project, led by the Spanish Red Cross. The pilot involved 15 people experiencing homelessness and 3 partner shops (a café, a hair salon, and a pharmacy).  Participants accessed services like meals and haircuts through the app.

The feedback received from users was very positive, highlighting the app’s ease of use and the respectful treatment received at partner establishments. One participant noted a meaningful conversation with another customer at the hair salon, marking a significant step toward social integration.

Insights from the pilot informed refinements to both the app and the administrative platform. With these enhancements, Llum Social aims to expand to additional cities and regions, continuing its mission to combat social exclusion through digital innovation.