The People Behind the Mission
Our Origins
This project wasn't built in a boardroom. It was born from a motel room in Bend, Oregon — and a determination to turn a painful experience into something that helps thousands.
Hi, I'm George Scharfetter — Founder of OUR CLEAR HAVEN
Last year, I became homeless for the first time in my life — right here in Bend, Oregon.
My landlord wouldn't wait for rental assistance to process. I was on medical leave, my insurance was backed up, and the system moved too slowly. So I've been living in motels ever since — working a retail job with heavy overtime just to cover the bills. And because of an autoimmune condition, going near shelters isn't an option for me.
Through all of it, my two cats — Pip and Squeak — have been my constant companions and emotional support. They've kept me going when things felt impossible.
I Thought I Understood the System
Before this happened to me, I worked nights as a safety monitor at the Lighthouse Navigation Center — a local homeless shelter. I saw the system from the inside, helping people every night, thinking I understood how it worked.
The resources exist. Finding the right source when you need them most feels almost hopeless. That experience lit a fire in me.
The Birth of OUR CLEAR HAVEN
I realized we don't need another complicated website or phone tree. We need something simple. Something that meets people where they are — even when they have no internet, no energy, and no patience for bureaucracy.
That's why I'm building OUR CLEAR HAVEN — the first deployment of the Crystal Clear App.
A free, offline-first app with a compassionate AI guide named Crystal. She speaks plain language, works without judgment, helps with forms, finds resources, and feels like a trusted friend when everything else feels overwhelming.
Crystal's name comes from the kind motel manager who helped me when I needed it most. That kindness deserved to live on in something bigger.
We're starting with the people who need it most — those facing the hardest moments of their lives. By putting the most powerful tool of our future directly in their hands, we're not just offering help. We're enabling people to empower themselves — to build skills, regain confidence, and take real steps toward improving their way of life.
Building It One Hour at a Time
Right now I'm still in survival mode — living in a motel, working retail overtime just to cover basic expenses, and building the app in every spare hour I have. The retail wages aren't enough to re-house myself, which means every hour spent at work is an hour not spent building.
Motel Life, Bend Oregon
Living and building from a single room, with Pip and Squeak close by. Every free hour goes into the app.
Crystal Clear App — In Development
The platform is actively being built. OUR CLEAR HAVEN is the first planned deployment, targeting Oregon in 2027.
The Next Step — Stable Housing
Stable housing means leaving the retail job and building full-time. Every donation goes directly toward that goal.
The Vision — Nationwide Impact
From Oregon to the nation — a platform that any community, organization, or individual can use.
Built from the Problem Itself
I'm not building this from a comfortable office or a theoretical idea. I'm building it from a motel room, with Pip and Squeak curled up beside me, because I've lived the exact problem we're trying to solve.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for caring. Thank you for helping us build something that truly matters.
— George Scharfetter
Founder, OUR CLEAR HAVEN · Bend, Oregon
From a Planner to a Purpose
It started with a day planner — a tool I was designing to bring clarity to chaotic days.
That idea grew into a story called The Legend of the Infinite Shroom: a future where AI does everything for us, yet people still feel lost. The story's message was simple — true happiness isn't something handed to you. It's something you find within.
Then life gave me the ultimate test of that message.
While navigating homelessness in a Bend motel, working retail and managing a chronic illness, I discovered how confusing and overwhelming the help system truly is. One kind motel manager became a lifeline in my darkest days. I named the AI guide Crystal after her. And through all of it, Pip and Squeak were beside me — as they are now.
Crystal is the compassionate companion I needed then — warm, patient, offline-first, and never judgmental. She meets people exactly where they are and helps them take the next clear step.
Be Part of This History
Your support turns one person's experience into a platform that helps thousands. Join us.