Community Resource Network

Problem

Low-income communities struggled to find and access local resources like food assistance, healthcare, housing help, and job training. Information was fragmented across government websites, non-profit directories, and word-of-mouth networks. Language barriers and digital literacy challenges further complicated access.

Approach

Conducted extensive community research through interviews, workshops, and participatory design sessions. Designed a multilingual, mobile-first platform that works on low-end smartphones and slow connections. Built trust through community partnerships and transparent resource verification. Used plain language and visual cues to reduce barriers to entry.

Outcome

Launched in three pilot neighborhoods with 500+ active users in the first month. 70% of users report finding resources they didn't know existed. Platform now lists 200+ verified resources and has facilitated 1,500+ resource connections. Community feedback directly informed iterative improvements.

Links