Proof-of-concept: all service requests are filed and tracked inside rvaHelp—not forwarded to RVA311. EN/ES, accessibility options in the header.
rvaHelp
rvaHelp

About & sources

Judge briefing—problem, solution, rubric alignment, limits, and sources.

rvaHelp

Problem

Residents often submit vague requests, aren’t sure which department handles an issue, and struggle with internal status language. That friction creates misrouting, delays, repeat contacts, and frustration for both residents and staff.

Our solution

Plain-language intake that asks clarifying questions when needed, maps wording to 86+ service categories with explainable confidence, and lets residents submit trackable requests entirely inside rvaHelp—plus staff triage, internal notes, resident-visible updates, and a status explainer in everyday language.

Impact

Reduces guesswork at the front door, improves routing clarity, cuts unnecessary back-and-forth in a pilot setting, and makes “what happens next” easier to understand for residents.