The City of Birmingham’s Innovation Team announced Monday the launch of the North Birmingham Community Service Hub, a neighborhood-based resource center designed to connect residents with services.
The hub is located at The Salvation Army in North Birmingham, 2015 26th Avenue North. The pilot program provides an in-person space where residents can receive guidance, referrals and support navigating community resources, according to a city press release.
The launch is paired with bham.findhelp.com, a free online platform that allows residents to search thousands of local programs and services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Too often, people know they need help but don’t know where to begin,” Mayor Randall L. Woodfin said. “This initiative removes barriers by bringing resources together in one place—both online and in the community—so residents can more easily access the support they need.”
The Service Hub is available to residents of all 99 neighborhoods. The city’s Innovation Team developed the hub through months of community engagement and research, working with residents, neighborhood leaders, service providers, businesses and community organizations to better understand how people seek assistance and where gaps exist in the current system.
As part of that effort, the i-Team spent 24 hours embedded at a Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service station, observing the challenges residents face and the role first responders often play in connecting people to critical services.
“We wanted to build this with residents, not just for residents,” Tish Fletcher, director of the City of Birmingham Innovation Team, said. “People’s lived experiences are valuable. By listening first and bringing stakeholders to the table, we’ve created a resource that is grounded in community needs and designed to deliver meaningful outcomes.”
The North Birmingham Community Service Hub features:
- Service navigators who help residents identify resources and complete referrals.
- A public access kiosk connected to bham.findhelp.com.
- Connections to housing, food assistance, health care, transportation, employment, utility support and other services.
- Partnerships with local organizations working to improve service delivery.
The city said the initiative combines data, community insight and collaboration across sectors to create a more coordinated and resident-centered approach to accessing help.
The North Birmingham Community Service Hub is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Salvation Army in North Birmingham.
Residents can explore resources anytime at bham.findhelp.com or visit the Service Hub in person.
