Venice continues to struggle with visible homelessness and a system that feels stuck. Projects like Venice Dell, once pitched as bold solutions, remain stalled. The city’s supportive housing strategy has not delivered fast or widely enough. And with each passing month, residents grow more frustrated.
While city leaders argue over zoning and lawsuits tie up construction, another approach is gaining momentum elsewhere. Crypto, once considered a fringe financial tool, is being used across the world to deliver fast, transparent support to people in need. And with some of the best crypto presales popping up, more people are investing in new and exciting cryptocurrencies before they even hit crypto exchange sites.
Blockchain technology is powering donation systems, microgrants, and direct aid flows with more speed and less red tape than traditional institutions. The question is not whether it works. It already does. The question is whether Venice is ready to try it.
Crypto allows donors to see exactly where their money goes. Blockchain ledgers show every transaction, so resources can be tracked from sender to recipient without middlemen or paperwork delays. Housing nonprofits in other cities now accept stablecoins, letting donors give in real time and allowing aid to reach families before eviction notices turn into emergencies. Venice groups could do the same. Organizations like Safe Place for Youth and Venice Community Housing could use crypto platforms to accept donations directly, offering complete transparency along the way.
Volunteers could also benefit. Local service efforts rely on residents donating time and labor, often without reimbursement. Using crypto wallets and basic check-in apps, volunteers could be paid within minutes for hours worked, eliminating the need for slow processing and budget approvals. These are tools already used by aid groups from Ukraine to Chicago. Venice does not need to reinvent them, only adapt them.
Rental assistance could be distributed faster, too. Instead of waiting for government checks to clear, a nonprofit could issue a small stablecoin grant the moment someone qualifies. Smart contracts can automate the process, ensuring that once a recipient meets basic requirements, funds are delivered instantly. Every payment would be logged publicly, reducing fraud and building trust among donors, nonprofits, and residents alike.
Of course, crypto is not perfect. People have valid concerns about its volatility, accessibility, and environmental impact. But these concerns are already being addressed. Many aid programs now use stablecoins tied to the US dollar, eliminating price swings. Platforms are shifting toward greener, less energy-intensive technologies. And crypto tools can be made simple enough to use with a smartphone, even for those without permanent housing.
What is harder to fix is the current system. Public agencies meant to coordinate homelessness responses have lost trust. LAHSA’s internal dysfunction has been detailed in audits. City council meetings descend into arguments. Neighborhood councils delay action through walkouts and procedural fights. In the meantime, people live and die on the street.
Crypto will not solve homelessness alone. But it can break through the excuses. It can bring speed and clarity where bureaucracy has brought only frustration. It can empower residents and nonprofits to act without waiting for policies to change or projects to clear one more hurdle.
Venice has always attracted people with bold ideas. Artists, entrepreneurs, activists. The tools exist to bring that same energy to the fight against homelessness. This is not about tech for tech’s sake. It is about trying something that works, now, for a problem that cannot wait.The future of housing support does not have to be delayed by broken systems. It can be direct, fast, transparent, and fair. Venice just has to decide if it is willing to lead the change that could reverse California’s record-high homelessness figures.
