A resource directory is only as good as its last update. Service information in BC is often spread across regional sites and outdated PDFs, and a resident who's sent to a shelter or food program that closed months ago doesn't get a second chance to trust the directory.
The problem with most resource directories
Most community resource lists get built once, launched, and then slowly go stale — a listing gets added, and nobody circles back to check if it's still accurate. For a resident calling a food bank that's moved, or a frontline worker referring someone to a program that no longer exists, that gap has a real cost.
What Help Kelowna does differently
Help Kelowna is a community resource and referral navigation platform for the Central Okanagan, currently carrying 1,229 verified listings. The distinguishing feature isn't the count — it's that an automated verification workflow re-checks every listing on a quarterly cycle, so residents aren't referred to services that have moved, changed hours, or closed since the listing was added.
It covers the categories people actually search for in a crisis or a gap: shelter, food, health, mental health, and more — built for both residents searching directly and frontline workers making referrals under time pressure.
Built to be replicated
Help Kelowna is free for residents, and it's built to be replicated and licensed for other cities and regions — which is also the reasoning behind HelpBC, a province-wide entry point that routes BC residents to their region's verified directory, starting with Help Kelowna for the Central Okanagan.
FAQ
How many listings does Help Kelowna have?
1,229 verified listings as of this writing, covering shelter, food, health, mental health and other resource categories in the Central Okanagan.
How often are listings re-verified?
Every quarter, through an automated re-verification workflow — so residents aren't sent to services that have moved, changed, or closed.
Is Help Kelowna free to use?
Yes, it's free for residents. It's built to be replicated and licensed for other cities and regions.
What is HelpBC and how does it relate to Help Kelowna?
HelpBC is a province-wide entry point for BC residents that routes them to their region's verified local directory. Help Kelowna is the first regional directory live on that model, covering the Central Okanagan.
If you run resource services elsewhere in BC
If your community or region needs the same kind of directory — one that's actually kept current — get in touch about licensing Help Kelowna's model for your area.