Our Mission
The Connect exists to make critical community resources visible, accessible, and easy to navigate - especially for young people experiencing housing instability, food insecurity, health challenges, or crisis situations.
We believe that a young person in crisis should never have to wonder where to turn. Whether you need a meal tonight, a place to sleep, a doctor who accepts your insurance, or a lawyer who can help with your situation - this site is designed to get you there as quickly as possible.
Our Approach
How we think about this work
User-Centered Design
Every design decision is made with the most vulnerable user in mind - someone who may be in crisis, on a low-data phone, or unfamiliar with navigating social services.
Verified Data
Each resource is manually reviewed and includes a "last verified" date so you know how current the information is. We aim to verify all entries quarterly.
Free & Open
This site is entirely free to use. There are no accounts, no ads, and no tracking. Our data is open and available for download.
Community-Powered
We rely on community members, social workers, and organizations to keep our data accurate. If you know of a resource we're missing, let us know.
Accessibility First
This site is designed to WCAG standards - keyboard navigable, screen-reader compatible, high contrast, and fast on slow connections.
Local Focus
We focus on Wayne and Monroe counties with plans to expand. Local focus means better data quality and more meaningful community relationships.
Coverage Area
The Connect currently covers resources in Wayne County and Monroe County, Michigan. This includes communities such as:
- Detroit
- Dearborn
- Westland
- Livonia
- Ypsilanti
- Monroe
- Downriver communities
- And more…
We plan to expand our geographic coverage over time. If you represent an organization in a neighboring county, reach out to discuss partnership.
Transparency & Data Practices
- No personal data collected. We do not collect visitor information.
- Open data. All resource data is available for download on the Data & Reports page.
- Verification dates. Every resource shows when it was last verified.
- Community edits welcome. Use the contact form to suggest corrections or new resources.
- No commercial relationships. We do not accept payment for resource listings.
Ready to Find Help?
Browse all resources or jump straight to the category you need.