WE ARE noQ
ABOUT US
NoQ is a volunteer-driven tech-for-good association dedicated to helping homeless and vulnerable individuals across Sweden. Our team of over 30 passionate members works tirelessly to provide innovative IT solutions that address critical challenges faced by marginalized communities.
Currently, our main focus is assisting those experiencing homelessness in Stockholm by connecting them with vital shelter services. We believe technology has the power to make a real difference in people’s lives, especially during times of crisis.
Our vision
Our vision is a society free from homelessness, where everyone has access to safe housing and support services.
Our mission
Our mission is to eliminate homelessness in Stockholm by December 31, 2024, focusing on providing immediate shelter and long-term solutions for those in need.
HistorY
noQ was founded in 2017 when Ove Holmberg, a consultant for the City of Stockholm, was tasked with investigating billing procedures for the homeless. During this time, he not only identified areas for improvement in the billing process but also encountered many homeless individuals, shelters, and administrators who were all burdened by manual administrative routines that consumed entire workdays instead of allowing them to help those in need. Ove’s report concluded with:
“You should also review the entire process from booking to statistics and consider how to book places more efficiently. Creating a booking app that provides an overview of available spots and contains all the data needed for billing shouldn’t be too difficult to build.”
At that time, the City of Stockholm had neither the time nor resources to pursue anything beyond improving billing procedures. Three years later, when Ove wanted to volunteer at a shelter, he found that the same manual routines and outdoor queues still persisted. In February 2023, Ove took the initiative to reach out to some friends and see if they were ready to take meaningful action. After rallying support on LinkedIn, around ten individuals stepped up to tackle the challenge. After a year of functioning as a virtual network, they recognized the need to formalize their efforts in order to establish partnerships, which became a key part of noQ’s strategy. On February 13, 2024, the non-profit organization noQ was officially established, with its first board consisting of Martin Jonsing, Johan Lith, and Ove Holmberg. As we enter the autumn of 2024, we are eagerly racing toward our first milestone: the launch of the app.
THE NEED
Homelessness and vulnerability are realities in Stockholm and beyond. Many individuals struggle daily with harsh conditions, including limited access to food, housing, healthcare, and support. These challenges can be compounded by social isolation, economic insecurity, and lack of access to essential resources and networks.
At noQ, we’re committed to addressing these issues head-on. We believe technology can be a powerful tool in simplifying daily life for vulnerable individuals and those working in shelters and social services. To this end, we’ve developed a hypothesis:
By leveraging innovative IT solutions, we aim to create a more supportive environment for those facing homelessness and vulnerability. Our goal is to connect people with vital resources and services, ultimately improving their quality of life.
Our Goals
We believe that a digital solution for the homeless, shelters, and administrators will:
- Provide a humane and simple way for the homeless to find sleeping spots.
- Simplify the administration of the manual process for shelters and administrators.
- Create more opportunities to offer beds and other services for hosts.
- Build self-compassion by delivering real value to those in need and to those of us working with noQ.
This would be in contrast to today, where the homeless stand outside in the cold early mornings for a ticket to a bed for the next night, and administrators and caseworkers spend many hours managing this.
This stands in stark contrast to the current situation, where the homeless wait outside in the cold early mornings for a ticket to a bed for the night, while administrators and caseworkers spend countless hours managing this process. We will know our hypothesis is valid when our solution demonstrates its potential from the perspectives of the homeless, shelters, and caseworkers.
The Solution
We’re developing an innovative IT solution to digitize and streamline the process of finding sleeping accommodations for both individuals and institutions. Our goal is to collaborate with organizations, companies, and municipalities to expand our network and create a product that benefits all parties involved – completely free of charge.
We’re building this app to address the pressing issue of homelessness in Stockholm and beyond. By leveraging technology, we aim to simplify daily life for vulnerable individuals and those working in shelters and social services.
We invite you to try out our app and be part of this mission to create positive change through technology. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those facing homelessness and vulnerability.
WHO WE ARE
We are all volunteers, dedicating as much time as we can to this cause. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, feel free to contact us through the contact page or sign up for our next informational meeting here.
