MICHELLE ZHANG

MICHELLE ZHANG

DISCOVER PROJECT

DISCOVER PROJECT

DISCOVER PROJECT

Veridge

// Overview

In 2023, Canada faced a severe housing crisis, and Halifax was one of the most affected cities. People without proper housing could be seen throughout the downtown area. This project set out to explore possible ways of addressing the issue, experimenting with different approaches and pivoting several times. Ultimately, the project focused on newcomers as the target group and developed an online platform aimed at easing the housing crisis from a new perspective.

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// Problems

• Housing stock cannot keep up with population growth.

• Vacancy rates are low.

• Increasing low-income family cannot afford a rental.

• Average rents are climbing.

// Affected groups

A user map was created to illustrate how individuals interact with the digital platform.

All users are required to create a personal profile, which includes a public review section displaying feedback received from other users. To increase transparency, users may also choose to link their profiles from partner platforms for additional references.

Users are encouraged to upload ID verification, which will grant them a “Verified User” badge visible to others.

To enable more accurate matching, individuals seeking accommodation are asked to provide basic information such as gender, age, occupation, and their goals for using the platform. Users can decide which details are visible on their profile and may also choose to build a resume to attract more attention from landowners, hosts, or job posters.

Once landowners, hosts, or job posters publish their listings, interested users can send inquiries, start conversations, and ultimately form successful matches through the platform.

// Conclusion

This idea initially aimed to address the housing crisis by focusing on homeless individuals. An online platform was proposed to connect them with job opportunities that include accommodation, helping to restore stability and dignity.

However, feedback from the first pitch revealed that the concept lacked credibility. Homelessness is a complex, multi-layered issue involving deep social, psychological, and structural challenges that technology alone cannot solve.

While the idea was well-intentioned, it lacked practical feasibility without strong support networks, policy frameworks, and service partnerships. A single app cannot resolve a systemic social crisis — it requires collaboration among communities, governments, and designers.

Therefore, the project now shifts its focus toward a new target group — new immigrants — to continue exploring solutions for the housing crisis.

New immigrants often experience significant stress and uncertainty when settling into a new country and are disproportionately impacted by the housing crisis. Addressing rental barriers for immigrants can also help alleviate broader housing challenges.

We have found that that some landlords take advantage of this vulnerability—through unfair lease terms, improper deposits, and unclear move-out rules—while new immigrants often lack access to reliable information or trusted legal support. What’s worse, these issues extend far beyond housing, frequently affecting other aspects of daily life. We have collected several real-world cases.

New immigrants often experience significant stress and uncertainty when settling into a new country and are disproportionately impacted by the housing crisis. Addressing rental barriers for immigrants can also help alleviate broader housing challenges.

We have found that that some landlords take advantage of this vulnerability—through unfair lease terms, improper deposits, and unclear move-out rules—while new immigrants often lack access to reliable information or trusted legal support. What’s worse, these issues extend far beyond housing, frequently affecting other aspects of daily life. We have collected several real-world cases.

When situations like this occur, new immigrants need a fast and reliable way to access services that can protect their rights—and a trusted platform they can turn to for help. Housing solutions for new immigrants require more than simply providing rental listings.

Based on this insight, we propose building a platform that not only offers trusted, verified rental information, but also connects new immigrants with vetted services—while empowering the community to share knowledge and support one another.

Our goal is to enable new immigrants to quickly find reliable support, protect their rights, and navigate challenges with confidence. We also aim to create a space where they can ask questions, seek help, and share experiences with peers. These insights form the foundation of our mission and vision, and guide the development of our brand.

New immigrants often experience significant stress and uncertainty when settling into a new country and are disproportionately impacted by the housing crisis. Addressing rental barriers for immigrants can also help alleviate broader housing challenges.

We have found that that some landlords take advantage of this vulnerability—through unfair lease terms, improper deposits, and unclear move-out rules—while new immigrants often lack access to reliable information or trusted legal support. What’s worse, these issues extend far beyond housing, frequently affecting other aspects of daily life. We have collected several real-world cases.

// Potential market

Veridge targets the rapidly growing population of new immigrants, a group that consistently faces critical challenges in settlement, adaptation, and access to reliable information. Each year, Canada alone welcomes hundreds of thousands of newcomers, creating a stable and continuously renewing user base with clear, unmet needs.

Currently, annual immigration in Canada amounts to almost 500,000 newimmigrants - one of the highest rates per population of any country in theworld.

---by Statista Research Department, Feb 1, 2024

Based on the data provided by IRCC website, IRCC issued 684,385 studypermit just in 2023.

Top host destination of international students worldwide in 2022,by number of students. (Figure is from Statista)

These challenges are not unique to one country. Major immigrant destinations such as United States, United Kingdom, and Australia face similar patterns, positioning Veridge as a highly scalable solution in the global market.

With millions of potential users entering new environments each year, even a low conversion threshold presents strong revenue potential. For instance, if each user spends just $10 on the platform, the cumulative market opportunity quickly scales into a significant and sustainable revenue stream.

In 2022, the number of migrant workers globally

167
Million

Million

Million

Number of customers

1,636,565

Purchases in given period of time

10$

10$

Each person at least one purchases

Market value

1,636,5650

Throughout its development, this project explored multiple business models and went through several iterations of the Business Model Canvas. A comprehensive revenue map was also developed to evaluate different monetization strategies.

The project was ultimately presented at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre’s Spark Expo at Saint Mary's University.