About the Project
AsylumConnect’s current resource verification model is a bottleneck, as volunteers must search for and independently verify resources for each city that the organization expands into. In addition, volunteers are not (all) members of our target community, and therefore not the best-equipped to verify whether or not a resource is LGBTQ-friendly, asylum seeker-friendly, etc. By allowing community members to tag, verify, endorse, and report resources, AsylumConnect will empower its niche and highly marginalized community while also keeping members as safe as possible.
About the Client
AsylumConnect is an incorporated nonprofit startup creating the first website and mobile app to feature an online, centralized database of service providers for LGBTQ asylum seekers in the U.S. The AsylumConnect catalog will help persecuted LGBTQ people find fundamental human needs resources upon their arrival in the U.S.
Main Features
Impact
Upon arrival to the U.S. from countries where they are persecuted because of their sexual orientation or gender expression, LGBTQ asylum seekers often have nowhere to go, no social support, and no legal right to work - many end up homeless. AsylumConnect strives to rectify this situation by assisting asylum seekers in locating and obtaining lifesaving resources. This simple idea has the potential to benefit an estimated 300,000 LGBTQ asylum seekers.
For all inquiries of partnership or sponsorship, please contact us at penn@hack4impact.org.