⬅ Our work

OPAL

(Olmsted Partnership for Assistance and Lifelines)

OPAL is a digital housing space reservation system developed in collaboration with the Zumbro Valley Medical Society. It simplifies shelter access for people experiencing homelessness by allowing them to reserve a bed through a low-barrier, easy-to-use digital check-in process. By filling out a short form with just four basic details, guests receive a digital token that confirms their spot for the night. This token allows them to arrive directly at the shelter, show their ID, and settle in quickly—no waiting outside in harsh weather, no paper lists, no confusion.

For too long, shelters and outreach teams have relied on paper logs, word-of-mouth updates, and manual coordination to track who needs a bed and who gets one. That system left too many people behind. OPAL was born from the urgent need to reduce barriers, give guests dignity, and provide frontline staff with tools they actually want to use. By digitizing and simplifying shelter access, OPAL ensures that no one has to face the cold without a plan.

Why OPAL was created

How OPAL helps guests and staff

Guests benefit from a streamlined process: a simple form, a digital token, and the reassurance of a reserved bed. Shelter staff gain an intuitive dashboard to manage capacity, assign beds, track overflow spaces, and accommodate mobility or preference needs. Additionally, a portion of beds is reserved for walk-in guests, keeping accessibility at the forefront. By making the system simple and reliable, both guests and staff spend less time navigating confusion and more time focusing on care and support.

Progress made so far

Since launching the project, OPAL has completed in-depth research with shelter administrators and staff, designed wireframes and user flows based on real-life shelter operations, built the first MVP, and tested it with partners. Feedback has been incorporated to make the system even simpler. The team is now finalizing a version ready for deployment this winter.

Changes OPAL hopes to bring

OPAL aims to transform shelter access into a system that is equitable, coordinated, and human-centered. Guests can check in quickly and with dignity. Staff spend less time on paperwork and more time helping people. Communities gain better insight into real-time needs, ensuring resources reach those who need them most.

Future outlook

We are exploring opportunities to expand OPAL beyond Rochester through new partnerships and research collaborations.

PathCheck Foundation is in early discussions with the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, the City of Cleveland, and New York City to explore how OPAL’s model could be adapted and scaled to meet housing and shelter coordination needs in other urban settings.

These conversations represent the next phase of OPAL’s growth, focused on applying data-informed and privacy-centered approaches to address homelessness more effectively across diverse communities.