Shelter Link wins Rep. Derek Tran’s 2025 Congressional App Challenge in California’s 45th District
Rep. Derek Tran has named Avyay Sadhu, Ifeanyichukwu Ufondu, Vedant Kharul, and Charlie Mosier of Lynbrook High School, Gretchen Whitney High School, and Choate Rosemary Hall as the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge in California’s 45th District. Their app Shelter Link is an AI-powered web platform that connects people experiencing homelessness in L.A.
When asked what inspired the creation of Shelter Link, the students said, “We created Shelter Link after seeing the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. We found out that there were many barriers people faced when trying to find shelter or services. Some of the current methods, such as phone calling, multiple websites, and a lack of availability in real-time, made it difficult for the homeless to find safe housing. However, technology allowed us to simplify this problem and help people find resources faster. We built an AI-powered platform that allows people to be matched with shelters compatible with them by using real-time data, multilingual support, and algorithms. By making shelter information more accessible, reducing search time, and providing personalized recommendations, we aim to help people find housing more effectively.”
The 2025 Congressional App Challenge marked another record-setting year for the program. A total of 394 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives hosted App Challenges in their congressional districts, the highest level of participation in the program’s history. More than 13,800 students from across the country participated, submitting over 4,600 original apps focused on real-world challenges ranging from health and accessibility to education, sustainability, and civic engagement.
The Congressional App Challenge is an official initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives that encourages middle school and high school students to learn to code, explore computer science, and build practical technology solutions for their communities. Each participating Member of Congress selects a winning app from their district, and winning teams are invited to showcase their projects to Members of Congress, staff, and industry leaders at the annual #HouseOfCode celebration on Capitol Hill.
The Challenge is proudly bipartisan and reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to STEM education and preparing the next generation of American innovators for the future workforce. The program is a public-private partnership made possible through funding from the Broadcom Foundation, AWS, Infosys Foundation USA, theCoderSchool, Apple, and others.
The 2026 Congressional App Challenge will launch in May, and eligible students can pre-register for the competition now.