The story behind NorthStar
NorthStar started with a simple question: What if finding the help you need didn’t have to be so hard?
Built by Joyce Xiao & Sharvil, inspired by people in our own community.
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Making the first step toward support a little easier to take.
Where it started
I started thinking about NorthStar after working in a local representative’s office. A big part of my job was meeting with people from our community who came in because they needed help.
Some were trying to figure out how to pay a bill. Some needed help with food, transportation, housing, or other expenses. Others came in with a question about a program they had heard about but didn’t know how to access.
What stuck with me was how often the resources were actually out there.
The problem was finding them.
The people we met
Imagine already worrying about making rent, buying groceries, keeping the lights on, or getting to work — and then having to spend hours figuring out which program might be able to help. I kept meeting people who were doing exactly that.
“Is there anything that can help me?”
From an idea to NorthStar
I brought what I was seeing in the representative’s office. Sharvil and I started asking ourselves why finding assistance had to be so complicated.
We realized that there were thousands of programs designed to help people, but finding the right one could mean searching across dozens of websites, figuring out confusing eligibility requirements, and hoping the information was still up to date.
We wanted to make that first step easier.
That became NorthStar.
What NorthStar does
Everyone’s situation is different. NorthStar helps you find resources that may fit yours.
Sometimes, people don’t need someone to fix everything.
They just need somewhere to start.
That’s what we hope NorthStar can be.
Meet the founders
I’m Joyce, and NorthStar grew out of what I saw while working in a local representative’s office. Meeting people who were trying to navigate complicated assistance systems made me realize how much harder finding help can be when you’re already dealing with a difficult situation.
I’m Sharvil, and I co-founded NorthStar with Joyce because we believed there had to be a simpler way to connect people with the resources already available in their communities.
What we believe
We believe asking for help shouldn’t feel like a scavenger hunt. There are people, organizations, and programs working every day to help their communities. NorthStar exists to make those resources a little easier to discover.
Because sometimes, finding the right door is the first step.
That’s okay. That’s what NorthStar is here for.
Find ResourcesStart exploring financial assistance programs in your area.