Home Away from Home

Abstract

Home Away from Home\" is a comprehensive web application tailored to the needs of students and working professionals living away from their homes. It addresses the common challenges faced by individuals who relocate to unfamiliar cities for education or work, particularly when it comes to finding essential services and accommodations. The platform simplifies the search for important daily needs, offering real-time information on messes with updated menus and user ratings, PGs and rental room availability, as well as vital services such as hospitals, electricians, grocery stores, and fitness facilities. The application allows users to easily discover and explore services based on their location, helping them make informed choices with the help of user-generated reviews and ratings. Additionally, it empowers service providers, like mess owners, by giving them the ability to update their menus in real time, ensuring that users always have the latest information at their fingertips. By offering a user-friendly interface and up-to-date details, \"Home Away from Home\" creates a seamless experience for users, making the process of adapting to a new city smoother and less stressful. The platform serves as a bridge between users and local service providers, ensuring that students and professionals can efficiently navigate their surroundings and access the resources they need to settle into their new environments comfortably.

Introduction

"Home Away from Home" is a web application designed to support students and working professionals relocating to new cities. It addresses challenges related to finding essential services such as food, accommodation, and housekeeping in unfamiliar environments. The platform provides an integrated, location-based solution that helps users discover PGs, rental rooms, mess services (with live menus), and maid services, all enhanced with user reviews and ratings.

Key Features:

• Unified Platform: Combines multiple essential services into one accessible interface.

• Google Maps Integration: Visual map-based search for nearby services.

• User Interaction: Simple, responsive design with forms for login, registration, and feedback.

• Real-Time Data: Mess menus and service details can be updated instantly by providers.

• Feedback System: Users can rate services and submit suggestions for platform improvements.

• Technology Stack:

  • Frontend: React.js with component-based architecture and Google Maps API.

  • Backend: Spring Boot with RESTful APIs, JWT authentication, and MySQL database.

  • Database: Manages users, services, reviews, and ensures data integrity.

Implemented Modules:

• Home Page: Overview of services.

• Login/Register: Secure user management.

• Accommodation Page: Listings for PGs and rentals with contact and rating info.

• Mess Services Page: Menus, pricing, and user feedback for local food services.

• Maid Services Page: Listings and details for cleaning and cooking help.

• Feedback Section: Collects user insights for service enhancement.

Future Scope:

1. Real-time availability for bookings.

2. Mobile app development.

3. Secure payment gateway integration.

4. AI-based personalized recommendations.

5. Expansion to more cities.

6. Addition of services like transportation and healthcare.

7. Enhanced user security.

8. Admin panels for service providers.

9. Personalized dashboards for users.

Conclusion

The \"Home Away from Home\" platform successfully addresses the growing need for reliable and accessible accommodation, mess, and maid services for students and professionals living away from home. By providing a user-friendly interface with easy navigation, it offers an all-in-one solution for finding accommodations, food services, and housekeeping help. The integration of a feedback and rating system further enhances the user experience, ensuring that users can make informed decisions based on real-time reviews. The use of MySQL ensures efficient data management, supporting smooth interaction between the front-end and back-end of the application. Overall, the platform has proven to be an effective tool for users looking to simplify their daily living arrangements and make their stay away from home more comfortable and convenient.

References

[1] Kumar, R., & Sharma, A. (2020). Urban Accommodation Solutions: A Web-based Approach to Student Housing in Metropolitan Areas. International Journal of Urban Studies and Technology [2] Zhang, J., & Li, H. (2019). Design and Development of a Web Application for Housing Services for Students and Professionals. International Journal of Web Development and Technology [3] Patel, S., & Desai, P. (2021). Digital Platforms for Affordable Housing: Impact on Students and Working Professionals in Urban Areas. Journal of Housing and Urban Development [4] Gupta, A., & Rathi, S. (2020). Web-based Solutions for Daily Services: Mess, Maid, and Accommodation Services for Students. International Journal of Service Design and User Experience [5] Verma, S., & Singh, P. (2019). Technology Adoption in Urban Migration: Digital Solutions for Urban Migrants’ Basic Needs. International Journal of Technology and Society [6] Kumar, P., & Desai, R. (2021). User Feedback Systems in Service-Oriented Web Applications: A Case Study for Student Housing Platforms. Journal of Web Application Development [7] Smith, R., & Jones, L. (2020). Integrating User Ratings and Reviews into Accommodation Services: Improving User Experience in Digital Platforms. Journal of Information Technology and User Experience [8] Singh, M., & Patel, A. (2021). Affordable Housing Platforms for Students: A Study on the Effectiveness of Digital Solutions. International Journal of Housing Research

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dr. C. M. Raut, Kashish Khewalkar, Saurabh Mankar, Subodh Mhaske, Ishan Parab. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.