The Doorway Project: A Resource Platform for Formerly Incarcerated People

Description

Nearly half of StepUp Durham's participants are rebuilding their lives after incarceration, 86% live below the poverty line, and many face housing instability or are survivors of domestic violence. Right now, StepUp's success coaches maintain carefully vetted lists of second-chance employers and community resources—but these critical tools exist only as internal spreadsheets, inaccessible when participants need them most: evenings, weekends, or moments of crisis when coaching offices are closed. Your mission is to transform these static resources into an intuitive, mobile-friendly public platform that puts employment opportunities and essential services directly into the hands of people who need them. 

You'll design for users with limited technology experience and inconsistent internet access, creating a system that's simple enough to navigate during stressful moments yet comprehensive enough to connect people with jobs, housing assistance, food security programs, and other vital resources. This isn't just a coding project—it's about dismantling barriers to opportunity and giving Durham's most vulnerable residents 24/7 access to pathways toward stability. You'll work directly with StepUp's community workers who understand these challenges firsthand, learn to design technology for equity and accessibility, and build something that could genuinely change lives by ensuring that hope and opportunity are available exactly when someone is ready to reach for them.