Philadelphia lawyer creates app to help the homeless
Nikki Johnson-Huston. Image from the Donafy website.
A Philadelphia lawyer who experienced homelessness as a child has created an app that makes it easy to donate to groups that help local poor people.
Nikki Johnson-Huston says she created and funded the app, Donafy, with her husband, Shawn Huston. Johnson-Huston is a tax attorney and motivational speaker, and Huston is the founder of LSP E-Discovery Services, a litigation technology company.
Donafy is intended for those who wonder how they can help the needy in their area, and for those who need assitance themselves, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The app is available in Apple’s app store. On the Donafy website, they say that they also plan to develop an Android version of the app in the future.
Those who use the app can make donations through PayPal to more than 100 groups that help the homeless and poor in Philadelphia. According to the Donafy website, none of those donated funds will go to Donafy itself; the app functions only as a conduit. Those who need help can find food, housing, legal aid and other resources through a map showing nearby services. Users who want to reach an outreach hotline for help for themselves or others can connect with a “notify” option.
The app “makes us all part of a community,” Johnson-Huston told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “You can get involved as much or as little as you want.”
On the Donafy website, it’s explained that although Donafy has initially launched in the Philadelphia Metro area only, they hope to expand to other areas as the organization grows.
Related article:
ABAJournal.com: “Philly City Lawyer Draws on Difficult Childhood in Advising Homeless”
Updated at 8:51 a.m. to add more detail.
