Social Services
Covers: homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, crisis centers, housing assistance programs, job training organizations, substance abuse recovery, legal aid, refugee resettlement.
See nonprofit for shared nonprofit traits (donate page, transparency, compliance).
What your visitors will find
I build the pages your customers actually look for — not a generic template.
Get help
The most important page. Services offered, eligibility, how to access help, crisis hotline numbers. Must be clear, compassionate, and barrier-free. Available in multiple languages if the community needs it.
Programs
Detailed descriptions of each program: who it serves, what's provided, how to enroll, what to expect
Crisis resources
Hotline numbers, 24/7 contacts, text lines, chat links. For DV shelters: safety planning info. Display prominently — not buried.
About
Mission, impact stats, leadership, staff, history
Donate
Financial support, wish lists (toiletries, clothing, furniture for housing programs), corporate partnerships, in-kind donations
Volunteer
Opportunities, requirements (background checks, training), sign-up
Referral partners
For agencies that refer clients: how to make a referral, intake process
Events
Fundraisers, awareness campaigns, community events
News / blog
Impact stories (with great care for client privacy), program updates, advocacy updates
Contact
Office hours, intake phone, referral contacts
A design that fits your brand
Dignified, accessible, and reassuring. Many visitors arrive in crisis. The design must feel calm, trustworthy, and immediately useful.
Warm, calming colors — soft blues, greens, and warm neutrals. Must not feel clinical or bureaucratic. Avoid harsh whites, institutional grays, or anything that feels cold or impersonal.
Humanist sans-serif (Segoe UI/Roboto stack). Large, clear text. Many visitors are reading under stress, on older devices, or in unfamiliar languages. Legibility is paramount.
Your business tools, connected
I integrate with the platforms you already use — styled links, not embedded scripts. Your site stays fast and private.
Apricot by Bonterra (formerly Social Solutions)
Case management built for human services. Client tracking, outcomes, reporting. apricot.socialsolutions.com
CaseWorthy
Case management for housing, homelessness, workforce development.
CiviCRM
Donor and volunteer management. Not case management, but good for the fundraising side.
SignUpGenius
Volunteer scheduling.
GiveButter
Fundraising campaigns.
Compliance handled
I know the regulations for your industry so you don't have to research them.
Client privacy
This is paramount. Never display client names, photos, stories, or any identifying information without explicit written consent. Many clients face safety risks (DV survivors, undocumented individuals). Default to full anonymity.
DV shelter location
NEVER publish the physical address of a domestic violence shelter on the website. Use a P.O. box or office address. This is a safety issue.
HIPAA
If the organization provides health or mental health services, HIPAA applies. Don't collect health information through the website.
Funder requirements
Many programs have reporting and visibility requirements from government funders. Display required funder logos and nondiscrimination statements.
Nondiscrimination
Display a nondiscrimination policy. Many funders (HUD, FEMA, etc.) require this.
Language access
If serving a multilingual community, key pages (especially "get help" and "crisis resources") should be available in the primary languages of the community served.
Content that keeps visitors coming back
Impact stories (anonymized or with explicit consent — never pressure clients), program milestone announcements ("we housed 50 families this year"), volunteer spotlights, donor recognition, awareness month features (Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, DV Awareness Month), policy and advocacy updates, community resource roundups, staff spotlights, fundraiser announcements and recaps.
Your industry calendar
I'll surface seasonal content ideas so your site stays timely and relevant.
- Social Work Month — Staff spotlights, impact stories, advocacy, volunteer appreciation.
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month — Resource sharing, awareness campaigns, community partnerships.
- Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week — Fundraising push, volunteer drives, media outreach.
Ready to build your social services website?
I'll use everything above to build you a site tailored to your industry — the right pages, design, tools, and compliance from day one.
Get started