What Hapi Delivers
- Yasaman Yazdandoust
- Jul 25, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 30, 2025
Offline Navigation
Accurate directions sent by text, no data plan, smartphone, or app required, so people can reliably get to appointments, work, housing intakes, ID offices, court, or parole check‑ins.
Why is it important?
Offline navigation is critical for reentry
Most people leave custody with a basic or borrowed phone, no data plan, and limited digital literacy—so app‑based maps rarely work in the crucial first days after release¹,².
The physical world outside has changed dramatically
After years (sometimes decades) away, released individuals face redesigned transit routes, relocated services, and gentrified neighborhoods³.
Release often happens far from home
People may exit custody in an unfamiliar city, yet probation demands punctual check‑ins without a mental map, local contacts, or easy ways to find help 14.
Technology and communication norms feel alien
Smartphones, QR codes, contactless payments, and real‑time transit apps are unfamiliar, making even simple tasks, like using a map app or finding a clinic online, major hurdles².
No phone, credit, or data means no digital navigation
Many walk out without a working phone, airtime, or data; ride‑hailing and map apps are inaccessible¹.
Even locating a store for an affordable phone or a library with free Wi‑Fi is difficult.
SMS‑based directions (usable on flip phones) remain the most realistic option2,4.
Transportation barriers threaten successful reentry
Without offline, step‑by‑step guidance, people struggle to reach housing offices, job centers, parole meetings, clinics, or shelters.
Missed or late appointments can trigger technical violations leading to re‑incarceration ⁵,⁶ ,⁷.
Navigation problems endanger lives
Overdose risk is 56× higher in the first two weeks after release; getting lost can delay access to harm‑reduction sites or healthcare ⁸.
Staff resources are stretched thin
Reentry workers spend valuable time giving directions instead of providing high‑touch case management; low‑tech navigation tools free them to focus on mental health, employment, and housing ³.
Offline navigation tools are a reentry lifeline
They acknowledge digital poverty and post‑release disorientation, ensuring safety, dignity, and a smoother return to community life.
What is the current way to do this?
Smartphone map apps (if available): Google Maps and similar tools work offline only if maps are pre‑downloaded, and functions like transit/walking directions can be limited or expire 9.
Offline navigation apps: They require a smartphone, storage, and setup; routing may fail or not recalculate if you deviate without switching to offline mode properly 10.
Transit SMS tools: Some cities let you text a stop number to get next‑bus times, but they don’t give full door‑to‑door directions 11.
211/phone helplines: Provide addresses and service info by call or text, but not step‑by‑step navigation 12.
Printed directions/word-of-mouth: Easy to lose or out of date when routes change or services move 13.
How can Hapi help?
📍 Turn-by-Turn Directions via Text (No Data Required) Hapi delivers walking, transit, car, or bike directions straight to any phone via plain SMS—no smartphone or data plan needed.
📶 Tech Support for the Tech Gap: No phone, no cash? Hapi can text nearby locations for free or low-cost phones, SIM top-ups, public Wi‑Fi access, and instructions for how to get connected.
📊 Staff Dashboard = Fewer Distractions: Support staff can view what Hapi sends, directions, forms, progress updates, and get real-time alerts, reducing repetitive “how do I get there?” calls.
"I can’t tell you how often clients ask how to get from point A to B. Me trying to explain the bus route doesn’t really help, but having Hapi support is huge for them."
Frontline Staff
🕒 Hours & Contact Info, Instantly Hapi provides up-to-date hours, phone numbers, and walk-in vs. appointment info alongside navigation—so users know exactly where to go and what to expect.
References:
https://www.wired.com/story/inmates-need-social-media-take-it-from-a-former-prisoner/?
https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/42981/411289-Understanding-the-Challenges-of-Prisoner-Reentry.PDF?
https://www.prainc.com/gains-transportation-after-incarceration/?
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11023396/?
https://eji.org/news/probation-and-parole-driving-mass-incarceration/?
https://www.ojp.gov/library/publications/reducing-missed-appointments-probation-and-parole-supervision-randomized?
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41887-021-00071-6?
https://www.herewego.info/en/here-wego/route-planning/offline-navigation/
https://www.edmonton.ca/ets/ets-text-messaging-service?
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