Inspiration
The idea for HomeBridge started with a simple question: why is it so difficult for someone experiencing homelessness to get a job if they are willing and able to work?
Many job platforms assume people have things that are easy to take for granted. A smartphone, a permanent address, internet access, or a bank account. At the same time, employers also often need temporary workers for events, warehouses, maintenance work, and other short-term jobs.
We wanted to build something that worked with the resources people already have instead of requiring resources they may not have. Most people can access a phone, even if it is a basic prepaid device.
What it does
HomeBridge is an AI-powered job dispatcher that connects people to verified same-day work through phone calls and text messages. No app download needed. No smartphone required. Workers call a number, speak in their preferred language, and get matched with nearby jobs. Shelters and nonprofits can vouch for workers they know. Employers are verified before posting and must commit payment before a shift is filled. After each shift, both sides leave ratings and a digital pay receipt is generated. Over time, those receipts build an income history that workers can use when applying for housing or other services. We also built in safety features like check-in and check-out texting. If a worker does not check out after a shift, a designated contact can be notified automatically.
How we built it
We used Twilio for calls and SMS, and OpenAI to power the dispatcher so workers can describe their availability in natural language. Our backend handles profiles, verification, shift registration, ratings, and payment records. Cursor and other AI coding tools helped us write and debug more efficiently. Ngrok and Textbelt let us test the system locally before connecting everything together.
Challenges we ran into
The biggest challenge was trust. Employers need to feel confident workers will show up. Workers need to feel confident they will actually get paid. A lot of our time went into designing systems that build that trust without adding unnecessary friction. Accessibility was the other major hurdle. We had to rethink the entire experience around calls and SMS so that someone with a basic phone could still participate fully.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We're proud that we built something that actually works for the people it's meant to serve. The platform runs entirely through phone calls and texts, so a smartphone or reliable internet connection was never a requirement to participate. Beyond the core functionality, we built real trust into the system. Shelter verification, employer reviews, ratings, and digital pay records are not just features. They are what makes the whole thing feel safe enough to use. Putting all of that together into one working system, designed around people experiencing homelessness rather than around convenience for everyone else, is what we're most proud of.
What we learned
We learned that technology is rarely the hardest part of solving a real problem, and that designing around real-world constraints is much harder. We learned how to connect AI with communication tools, how to build verification systems, and how to think from the perspective of users whose daily reality looks very different from our own. More than anything, we learned that access matters. A tool is only useful if the people who actually need it can use it.
What's next for HomeBridge
We want to grow our employer partnerships, improve multilingual support, and deepen worker verification through shelters and community organizations. Our goal was never to solve homelessness. It was to make work more accessible to people who get left out of traditional hiring. One completed shift becomes a pay stub, and then a pay stub becomes proof of income. That proof of income can open doors that were previously closed.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.