SafeNest

Inspiration

SafeNest was inspired by our commitment to feminism and the pressing realities of domestic abuse that many women face. Disturbingly, 1 in 3 women in Canada will experience some form of intimate partner violence (WHO), and 94% of domestic abuse cases involve financial abuse (Statistics Canada). This stark connection shows how financial control can trap women in abusive relationships. Additionally, 48% of women who leave abusive situations often return due to financial constraints (Surviving Economic Abuse). SafeNest aims to provide the resources and tools necessary to help women break free from the cycle of abuse.

What it does

SafeNest is a comprehensive platform designed to empower women facing domestic abuse by helping them achieve financial independence. Our user-friendly web app offers a range of features tailored to meet individual needs and circumstances:

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): We prioritize security, ensuring that users’ personal information remains safe as they navigate their financial journeys.
Personalized Questionnaire: Users begin their experience by completing a questionnaire that assesses their financial situation. This information allows us to create a tailored roadmap specific to their goals and challenges.
Tailored Roadmap: The personalized roadmap outlines actionable steps toward achieving financial independence, helping users stay focused on their objectives.
Bank Linking: Users can securely link their bank accounts, allowing for seamless tracking of income and expenses, which helps in budgeting effectively.
Investment Portfolio: SafeNest includes an investment toolkit that guides users in exploring and managing investment options to promote long-term financial growth.
Tailored Resources and Mentorship: We offer a variety of educational resources on financial literacy, along with access to mentors on the platform who provide personalized guidance and support.
Interactive Dashboard: The dashboard displays users’ goals, tasks for the month, and progress tracking for each goal, making it easy to manage their financial journey.
Goal Management: Users can add, edit, or delete their goals as needed, ensuring that their financial plans remain relevant and achievable.
Paid Plan: Our paid plan provides all the free features, along with unlimited access to courses and webinars, enabling users to deepen their financial knowledge without limitations.
AI Chatbot: An AI chatbot is available to assist users with questions and provide instant support, making information easily accessible.
Emergency Exit: To prioritize safety, the emergency exit feature redirects users to a seemingly harmless YouTube video, providing a discreet way to exit the platform if needed.
Rounding Up Purchases: Users can enable a feature that rounds up their everyday purchases to contribute to their emergency savings fund, making saving effortless and automatic.

How we built it

We developed SafeNest using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Tailwind CSS, and Node.js to create a smooth user experience. PropelAuth ensures that user authentication is secure and manages user roles, ensuring appropriate access and permissions across different account types. Our AI chatbot, powered by the OpenAI API, provides real-time support and guidance as users navigate their financial journeys.

Challenges we ran into

For many team members, this was our first time using React, which presented a learning curve. Adapting to React’s component-based structure and ensuring effective state management were significant challenges that required collaboration and perseverance to overcome.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We take pride in the innovative and comprehensive user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) of SafeNest. The seamless integration of PropelAuth and OpenAI enhances the platform's functionality, making it a robust resource for women seeking financial independence.

What we learned

Through this project, we learned how to effectively use React and the importance of user-centered design. We also recognized the power of technology as a force for social good, as we created a tool that can significantly impact women’s lives.

What's next for SafeNest

Looking ahead, we’re excited to develop a mobile app version of SafeNest to reach even more women and provide resources on the go. We also plan to scale up our mentorship program, connecting users with financial experts and advocates. Additionally, we’re exploring partnerships with local shelters and organizations to offer workshops and resources directly to women in need, and we’ll be incorporating user feedback to keep improving our platform.