How it works
NYC Dream Connect is deliberately slow in the right places. A person — not an algorithm — stands between a dream and a connection.
Stage 1 — Share
A New Yorker posts a dream or an offer. Public posts are anonymous, neighborhood-level, and free of contact details. Identity verification happens privately and separately.
- • Choose one of six categories
- • Pick a display name — never your legal name
- • Location stays at borough and neighborhood level
Stage 2 — Human review
A Dream Connector reads every dream and every offer to help. They check verification status, look for risk signals, and pull in neighborhood context from NYC Open Data.
- • Approve, decline, or ask a clarifying question
- • Flag anything that needs escalation
- • Match against nearby resources and organizations
Stage 3 — Connect
When both sides consent, the Connector makes an introduction with clear guidance for a safe first meeting, then follows up to see how it went.
- • Explicit consent from both people, every time
- • Suggested public meeting places and check-in plan
- • Either side can pause or stop at any point
What we never do
No direct messaging between members. No exact addresses. No public identity. No payments. No selling of personal data.
NYC Dream Connect is a community connector, not a social service agency, a healthcare provider, or an emergency responder.