Case Study: Real-Time Resource Access Platform for Vulnerable Communities
Project Context
Across King County, thousands face daily barriers to accessing life-saving resources, shelter, food, health care, and crisis support. Traditional resource directories are outdated, fragmented, or hard to navigate, especially for individuals experiencing homelessness, disability, or systemic marginalization.
Emerald City Beacon set out to change that. Their goal: build a reliable, real-time, and inclusive platform to connect vulnerable populations with verified local resources—quickly, ethically, and at scale.
Our Role
We developed and delivered the Beacon Platform from the ground up. Our team worked directly with individuals with lived experience, community partners, and public agencies to ensure every feature met real needs. We prioritized data accuracy, universal accessibility, and long-term sustainability from the very first sprint.
We didn’t just build software, we operationalized a technical vision rooted in community trust and digital equity.
What We Delivered
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Real-Time Resource Locator:
- Dynamic directory of shelters, clinics, food banks, and crisis services
- Visual trust signals for verified data
- Mobile-optimized maps with geolocation and public transport links (in development)
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Inclusive Access Layer:
- ADA-compliant UI with screen reader support and keyboard navigation
- Multilingual support (initially English and Spanish, with expansion roadmap)
- SMS and voice-assisted search modes (in development)
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Feedback + Reporting System:
- Embedded tool for community members to submit corrections or suggestions (in development)
- Internal verification workflows to vet and publish updates rapidly
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Impact + Performance Dashboards:
- Custom dashboards tracking usage, accessibility scores, and query success rates
- Automated monthly reports for funders and partners
Takeaway
Emerald City Beacon proved that ethical tech, built in deep partnership with communities, can deliver real impact—fast. By embedding mission-driven engineering culture, robust architecture, and community feedback loops from day one, we helped transform a critical public challenge into a scalable, secure, and accessible solution for those who need it most.
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