Become a Pilot Partner
Scan Support is a service that lets donors give directly to individuals experiencing homelessness. We are securing a card sponsor, and shelter staff verify each recipient. We are looking to partner with our first pilot partners in the Greater Toronto Area, with Scan Support handling the donation side. Reach out below to learn how your shelter can take part.
A staff mode in the Scan Support app lets your team confirm recipients and help residents get started.
What your staff gets.
Staff confirm each recipient
Shelter staff confirm each recipient in the app's staff mode. Staff can also aid residents in setting up their accounts, with the app guiding each step.
Scan Support handles the rest
Scan Support handles donors, payments and cards, allowing your team to stay focused on the residents in their care.
Purpose-limited donations
Each donation goes toward a purpose, such as groceries, transit, hygiene, health, shelter or personal. The card is designed to work only for matching transactions.
FAQ
What does the shelter take on?
The shelter's part is one quick step: staff confirm each recipient in the Scan Support app. That check can happen when staff already meet a resident, and Scan Support handles all of the donation side.
How are recipients verified?
We know government ID can't be taken for granted, so shelter staff, who know residents best, confirm each recipient in the Scan Support app. Once confirmed, each donation reaches the recipient on a virtual card, toward a purpose.
What spending categories are supported?
Groceries, transit, hygiene & personal care, health, shelter costs, and personal (no set purpose). Donors choose how to split each donation across them.
Do recipients need a phone?
Our model rests on the premise that more individuals experiencing homelessness have phones than is commonly assumed. Pilot details, including how a recipient accesses their card, are agreed with each shelter before it begins.
What does the public see about each recipient?
Public profiles show only a display name and a short story the recipient chooses. No profile appears until shelter staff confirm the recipient in the Scan Support app.
How does a pilot with a shelter start?
We are in our pre-pilot stage while we secure a card sponsor. We are looking to partner with shelters in the Greater Toronto Area, and pilot details are agreed with each shelter before it begins.