Detroit (and the rest of the world for that matter) could really use a website or app that tracks and prioritizes needs and requests and facilitates peeps to fulfill them. I am thinking something very basic that can be up and running in the next few days. Reddit is great in a lot of ways, but a more effective way of helping our sisters and brothers in need can surely be created.

The web resource I envision needs:

• Ability to login and create accounts from Facebook/Google accounts for feasibility's sake
  • User accounts keep track of total requests and offers fulfilled and other user statistics
• Simple local dashboard with localized Requests and Offers. One for all of Detroit may be good to start.
  • Ability for users to rate requests/offers
    • Is the request appropriate?
    • How urgent is the request? (Priority)
    • Are the users following health code / pandemic protocol?
  • Dashboard is basically ledger with open requests with most priority upvotes at the top, fulfilled requests at the bottom
  • Ability to sort by category of offer / request
    • Food / Housing / Healthcare / Transportation / Child Care / etc.
    • When sorting by a category, a directory of local organizations working in that category populates at the bottom of the ledger.
  • Facilitates discussion of community needs and requests
• Each request and offer has:
  • a radius around the location similar to Craigslist
  • space to list precautions being taken

As of now I do not envision this website to be a hub for crowdfunding, as I cannot see how requests could be properly vetted.

Of course, this is just a sketch and I am open to any and all suggestions. I would like to create a team that can meet via Discord, so if you are interested in helping please reply or send a message.

While I have developing experience, I am ~10 years out of the game. I am currently investigating the feasibility of integrating JomSocial and Joomla components/extensions to get this bike on road as quickly as possible. Have a better idea? Please share!