SUBSCRIBE: Missing news on social media? Subscribe to CHAT News Today's DAILY newsletter and stay up to date with your city.

THRIVE to launch an app to help connect people to services

Jan 9, 2018 | 3:19 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT – THRIVE, an organization in Medicine Hat dedicated to ending poverty in the community, is launching a new mobile app and website.

The poverty reduction leadership group began its work last February. It’s comprised of representatives from the community that initiated the development of the THRIVE Strategy.

The app, dubbed ‘HELP Seeker,’ will bring together information from several social and other support service providers in the community to one central hub. There will also be a web-based version.

THRIVE believes this will help those seeking assistance connect with the agencies they need. The group believes having a one-stop-shop for that information, will help eliminate the confusion and run around people sometimes experience trying to find the information on their own.

Some people may find it odd that such a resource is being made available for smartphones and computers when it targets those facing poverty. But, Dr. Alina Turner, creator of the app, said it’s a common misconception that people in poverty don’t have access to technology.

“People living in poverty have tremendous access to technology,” Turner explained. “Some of them have smartphones, some of them have access to free desktops, for instance at the library or a drop-in centre. So, quite a bit of access permeates that segment of society.”

Medicine Hat will be the testing ground for the application to help work out any issues with the system. Turner said it will then be able to be used in other communities as well.

THRIVE said the app will be launched sometime within the next week and more details will become available then.