Connect-SJ

ConnectSJ empowers the homeless with instant access to food, shelter, jobs, and rewards — a bridge from survival to stability, all in one app.

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Inspiration

The homelessness crisis in San José and the wider Bay Area has worsened over the past few years. Despite the availability of resources, access remains fragmented and unclear for those who need them the most.
We were inspired by the belief that technology can bridge this gap — making critical resources accessible, personalized, and actionable for every homeless individual through a single, simple platform.

What it does

ConnectSJ is a community-driven resource and opportunity hub that:

  • Connects homeless individuals with nearby food, shelter, healthcare, transportation, and recovery services.
  • Offers job opportunities tailored to the homeless youth and adults, helping them transition toward economic independence.
  • Incentivizes volunteering and engagement through a rewards system, redeemable for essentials like meals, clothing, haircuts, and more.
  • Personalizes resource recommendations using a chatbot that interacts with users and understands their immediate needs.
  • Tracks personal progress and redemptions, providing dignity, agency, and hope.

How we built it

  • Frontend:

    • Built with React and TailwindCSS for fast, responsive, mobile-first design.
    • Integrated Framer Motion for animations and a better user experience.

  • Backend/API:

    • Serverless Vercel Functions for fetching live resources and handling chat proxying securely.
    • Firebase Firestore to store jobs, resources, redemptions, and user profiles.

  • AI Chatbot:

    • Integrated with Langflow MCP API for intelligent query handling based on user questions about food, shelter, jobs, or healthcare.

  • Authentication & Data Management:

    • Lightweight token system for personalization without friction.
    • Real-time updates for rewards and incentives.

Challenges we ran into

  • CORS and Proxy Handling:
    Connecting external AI APIs with frontend apps caused CORS errors, which we solved using Vercel serverless functions.

  • Data Structuring:
    Balancing flexibility and simplicity while modeling jobs, rewards, resources, and incentives for homeless users who may have diverse needs.

  • Resource Discovery:
    Ensuring that resources suggested were not outdated, and that the chatbot gave only real-world verified information.

  • Engagement Design:
    Designing a points and rewards system that feels empowering, not patronizing.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • End-to-end deployable platform in a hackathon time limit, available live at https://connect-sj.vercel.app/
  • Seamless chatbot experience connecting vulnerable populations directly with real support systems.
  • Fully gamified rewards system that respects and rewards positive community actions.
  • Beautiful, mobile-first experience that feels intuitive and dignified for users.

What we learned

  • How serverless functions can be critical to solving real-world security and CORS challenges.
  • How UX/UI design for vulnerable populations demands extra sensitivity and simplicity.
  • The power of rewards and gamification when aligned with social impact.
  • The importance of realistic scoping — focusing on impactful MVP features first.

What's next for ConnectSJ

  • Partnerships with local nonprofits to onboard real shelters, food banks, clinics, and job providers onto the platform.
  • Real-time availability data — seeing open beds, meal times, and immediate job openings.
  • SMS-based access for users without smartphones.
  • AI-enhanced case management — providing intelligent long-term support plans personalized for each user.
  • Multilingual Support — especially Spanish and Vietnamese support for San José’s demographics.

ConnectSJ is not just an app — it's a bridge from survival to stability, from isolation to community.

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