New Home Help OK app connects Oklahoma City residents with free community resources

Finding help during a crisis can be overwhelming, especially when someone doesn't know where to turn. A new Oklahoma City-based app is making it easier for residents to find emergency shelter, food assistance, domestic violence services and other community resources in one place. 

Home Help OK is a free resource directory that connects Oklahomans with local organizations offering food, shelter, clothing, veteran services, legal aid and other forms of assistance. The app allows users to search for nearby services quickly and anonymously without creating an account. 

The app was developed by Oklahoma residents Erica Stone and Emily Overand, who recognized a need to make existing community resources more accessible. 

"We've developed an app called Home Help OK that connects people to resources they need instantly and anonymously," said Stone, co-founder of Home Help OK. 

The project began nearly a year ago with a focus on helping people experiencing homelessness find shelter. As development progressed, Stone and Overand recognized opportunities to address a broader range of needs. 

Making Oklahoma City community resources easier to find 

Through Home Help OK, users can select the type of assistance they need and view nearby organizations offering those services. Listings include contact information, operating hours and descriptions of available resources. 

Participating organizations can also update their availability, helping users determine where assistance may be accessible before making a trip. 

For someone experiencing homelessness and seeking emergency shelter in Oklahoma City, that could mean identifying which facilities have available beds rather than traveling between multiple locations without knowing whether space is available. 

Stone said the app's primary advantage over existing resource directories is its simplicity and accessibility. 

"It's a lot of the same information, but accessibility is the big differentiator," Stone said. 

The team has also worked with the mobile integrated health team to improve the quality of the information and develop processes for keeping listings current. 

A resource for those seeking help and those providing it 

While Home Help OK was initially designed to help people experiencing homelessness, Stone and Overand have discovered that the app could be equally valuable to those helping others navigate a crisis. 

First responders, teachers, faith leaders, employers and community service providers can use the platform to connect people with appropriate resources. 

Stone said a single person using the app in a professional or volunteer capacity could potentially help dozens of others. 

For employers, the app could be particularly useful when an employee approaches a supervisor about a personal crisis, such as domestic violence or housing instability. 

Rather than searching through multiple directories or relying on personal contacts, employers can use the app to identify organizations equipped to provide assistance. 

The platform also allows individuals to seek help privately without creating an account or disclosing their circumstances to someone they know. 

"I think the anonymous piece of this is really beneficial," Stone said. 

Built by Oklahomans, for Oklahomans 

Home Help OK was developed entirely through volunteer efforts, including contributions from the app's development company. 

"This project has been built with 100% volunteer hours," Stone said. "None of us working on this have done anything but volunteer to make it a possibility." 

For Stone, the project reflects a community coming together to make the work of existing service organizations more accessible. 

Rather than creating new services, Home Help OK aims to help people connect with the organizations already working to meet community needs. 

"We're not recreating what Oklahoma City already has," Stone said. "Oklahoma City already has so many organizations, so many people with good hearts and helping hands that want to help." 

As the app becomes available to more Oklahomans, Stone hopes it will reduce the time between someone recognizing a need and finding an organization that can help. 

Whether someone is searching for shelter during a winter storm, seeking support in an unsafe living situation or helping a neighbor navigate a difficult circumstance, the goal is to make assistance easier to find. 

"We're trying to solve how quickly people can get help because it really can be life-changing," Stone said. 

Home Help OK is free to use and accessible on Apple and Android devices through homehelpok.com. Users can also scan the QR code to access the app and add it to their home screen.