SparkAccess — Technology help for people experiencing homelessness
A place to sort out the things that need an email address.
Who it's for
Anyone experiencing homelessness or housing instability. No appointment, no paperwork, no questions about your situation.
What happens
We set up at partner sites and help with whatever technology is in the way. Getting back into an email account. Setting up one that lasts. Recovering documents. Applying for benefits online. Making a phone secure. Filling in an application that only exists as a web form.
You can come with one specific thing or with a list. You can come back next time with the rest.
Support resources — crisis lines, benefits assistance, housing services — are available from our staff at every session, whether or not you came for technology help. Just ask.
No cost to take part.
Nothing to pay, and nothing to sign up for.
At day centers, shelters, and resource centers, in partnership with the organizations already doing this work.
How we work with partner organizations
We come to you, during hours your community is already there, alongside your staff and inside your existing protocols.
We do not run our own site, we do not ask people to travel, and we follow your escalation procedures rather than inventing ours. Two of our people, always.
Three ways in
I want to take part
Tell us a little about what you need and we'll say where and when SparkAccess is running next — for you, or for someone you're asking on behalf of.
Ask about taking partWe want to host this
Care communities, shelters, libraries, schools, and community organizations — here's what hosting involves.
Host SparkAccessI want to help
Workshop volunteers, mentors, and interns. Patience matters more than technical skill.
Get involvedOr reach us directly: (303) 228-5535 · support@smallspark.org
Questions
Do I need ID?
No. You don't need ID to sit down with us. If what you're trying to do requires a document you don't have, helping you get it is part of what we do.
What if I don't have a phone?
We bring equipment. You can use ours during the session, and we'll set things up so they're reachable from any computer later.
How long does it take?
Some things take five minutes, some take an hour. Stay as long as you need, and if we run out of time, pick it up next session.
Do you keep my information, and who can see it?
No. Accounts and documents are yours — we set them up with you and don't keep copies or records of what you worked on.
Do I have to give my name?
Not to us. Some accounts you set up will ask for one, and that's between you and them.
Can I come back?
Yes, as many times as you want. Most people do.
What if I've forgotten every password I've ever had?
Then that's where we start. Recovering accounts you've lost access to is the single most common thing we do, and there's usually a way in.
Is there any cost?
There is no cost to take part.
Related reading
- Digital SafetyWhat to Do If You Think You Gave Information or Money to a ScammerA calm, ordered response for the first hour, the first day, and the first week — who to contact, what to secure, and where to report.
- Digital SafetyIs This a Scam? 10 Warning Signs Before You Click, Pay, or RespondTen signals that a message, call, or website is fraudulent — and the pause-and-verify habit that protects you when the signals are subtle.