San Francisco and Seattle residents are becoming increasingly familiar with an easy-to-remember phone number: 311.

As income inequality widens and tech companies continue to stake their claim in West Coast cities, a growing number of people are left without affordable housing. As a result, there's been a surge in homeless encampments or "tent cities" that are often reported by local residents via 311.

Individuals without housing in San Francisco surged 17% from 2017 to 2019. The Seattle Times reports that King County, WA, home of Seattle, saw an 8% decrease in the county's homelessness in 2019, but that estimate is doubted by a city council member and service providers. And despite the reported decrease, there was a 309-person uptick of people living in tents or unsanctioned encampments.

The encampments have stirred a back-and-forth debate among business owners, residents and local politicians about how to "deal with" the homelessness problem. True to form, many cities have proposed tech-oriented solutions using apps to locate homeless people and get individuals off the street. But many questions remain about whether or not the apps are a "smart" solution to homelessness, or a waste of government money.

To app or not to app

Apps allow community members to report encampments quickly and remotely, providing the ability to send a report directly to the corresponding city department. If someone experiencing homelessness is loitering at a local business or if they appear to need medical attention, all it takes is a few clicks to make the city aware.

San Francisco has touted their technology as a "lifeline," a smart solution to a widespread problem, and a way to get help quickly for people living on the streets. Others have called it a "snitch" app.

Seattle's "Find It, Fix It" app is a mobile version of the city's 311 number. Residents can alert the city to public problems with a message including a location and description. Users submit issues by category, such as illegal dumping, potholes, dead animals, and "other inquiries," allowing residents to report encampments, city spokeswoman Cyndi Wilder told Smart Cities Dive in an email interview.

"With 'Find It, Fix It,' reporting an issue is as easy as snapping a photo with your smartphone," according to the City of Seattle Website.