Bay Area's AI-Powered Safety Net Aims to Transform Care for Unhoused Residents

A new AI-powered safety net program has launched in the San Francisco Bay Area to support unhoused residents. The initiative, led by Future Communities Institute (FCI), brings together Five Keys, ReImagine Freedom, and Akido Labs to expand access to medical and social services. The program aims to reach thousands of people living on the streets before they require emergency care.

The partnership introduces an AI system called ScopeAI, developed by Akido Labs, to speed up medical treatment. This technology can start patients on medically assisted treatment (MAT) for substance use disorders within four hours of first contact. The system also runs full patient visits, helping street medicine teams and community health workers serve more people efficiently.

Akido's care model was designed alongside the communities it will support, ensuring the program meets real needs. Five Keys and ReImagine Freedom contribute their expertise in education, reentry support, and community-based health services. Together, these organisations create a network focused on whole-person care.

The launch comes as homelessness in the Bay Area continues to rise. Over the past decade, the unhoused population has grown by 46%, with a 6% increase in the last year alone. Currently, around two-thirds of unhoused residents live on the streets, making rapid access to care even more urgent.

The program will expand the reach of street medicine teams and allow health workers to provide more services. By using AI to streamline care, the initiative seeks to prevent emergencies and improve long-term outcomes for unhoused individuals. FCI and its partners plan to build on this model to strengthen support systems across the region.