ESS connects people to essential resources and empowers them to move toward stability, independence, and a better tomorrow.
ESS exists to make essential support easier to find and easier to access. Through a free, GPS-based app, we connect people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity with nearby food, shelter, healthcare, employment resources, case management, document assistance, and other essential services.
Our purpose is not to determine someone’s path for them. It is to give people better access to the information and resources they can use to move forward.
Empowering individuals to navigate hardship, access essential resources, and invest in
their own path toward stability and independence.
Help us — help you — invest in yourself.
How ESS WorksMaking resources easy to find and use for everyone.
Treating every individual with respect and care.
Building stronger communities through connection and support.
Creating a pathway to stability and a brighter future.
Clayton M. Jones began developing ESS during his sophomore year at UC Berkeley around a simple problem: essential resources often exist, but the information people need to find them is scattered across agencies, websites, flyers, and word of mouth.
ESS was created to change that.
What began as an idea became Essential Support Sourcing, a nonprofit and free GPS-based app designed to bring nearby resources together in one place. Instead of expecting someone in a difficult situation to navigate a complicated system on their own, ESS helps make that system easier to understand and access.
Today, ESS is focused on strengthening the connection between people looking for support and the organizations working to provide it — beginning in the Coachella Valley and building toward a model that can serve more communities over time.
ESS brings scattered resource information together in one simple, location-based tool. People can find nearby services, connect directly with providers, and get the information they need to decide what comes next.
See essential services available around you
Call, get directions, and connect with organizations that can help.
Free to use and designed to work on everyday smartphones.
ESS has been a game-changer for me. I didn't even know these resources existed until I found the app. It made such a difference when I needed help the most.
ESS App User, Community College StudentWe envision communities where people facing hardship can quickly understand what resources are available around them, connect with the right support, and take the next step toward stability and independence.
