Clients, Data and Testimonials
Who We Serve: Unhoused People, Public Parks, and Homeless Service Providers
Since March 2020, our very humble pilot program has attracted an average of 53 unhoused people per cleaning from word-of-mouth advertising only. (Over the last three months, that average has jumped to 100+.). Through thousands of hours of cleaning alongside our clients, gathering input, and conducting research both locally and nationally, we increasingly understand our park-focused, community-based homeless work and outreach model to be a magnet for the following reasons.
#1: Our model meets unhoused people where they are. With Bay Area shelters overflowing and waitlists for affordable housing as long as three to four years, many individuals in San Jose have been forced to live in and around abandoned parks because there is simply nowhere to go. By meeting highly at-risk (and often chronically homeless) individuals on their turf with an empowering and dignified cleaning opportunity, our program builds trust extremely quickly with clients. This is evidenced in both very high rates of return (77% of our unhoused partners have attended cleanings more than ten times) and testimonials.
#2: We prioritize the needs of unhoused clients through a human-centered approach to program design. This involves removing bureaucratic barriers for people who often lack basic prerequisites for employment (i.e., documentation and an address) and providing stipends and access to support resources directly after cleanings.
#3: We provide a unique opportunity for inclusion for a population that often suffers from extreme social isolation. Because humans are neurologically hard-wired for connection, our model engages both unhoused and housed people (our founder and members of our board clean alongside our unhoused clients on a weekly basis) to take part in a dignified, community-serving activity in a made-for-fun space. This eliminates the awkward social dynamics that exist in many charitable service offerings and helps break down very real social barriers that unhoused people experience while living on the streets.
#4: Our model is rooted in the demographics of homelessness and landscaping. 70% of unhoused individuals nationally are single men. Landscaping is a male-dominated industry requiring very low levels of education. Hygiene—a major barrier to securing and maintaining most forms of employment for unhoused people—isn’t an issue.
Demographic Data from our Unhoused Clients:
Gender
#1: Our model meets unhoused people where they are. With Bay Area shelters overflowing and waitlists for affordable housing as long as three to four years, many individuals in San Jose have been forced to live in and around abandoned parks because there is simply nowhere to go. By meeting highly at-risk (and often chronically homeless) individuals on their turf with an empowering and dignified cleaning opportunity, our program builds trust extremely quickly with clients. This is evidenced in both very high rates of return (77% of our unhoused partners have attended cleanings more than ten times) and testimonials.
#2: We prioritize the needs of unhoused clients through a human-centered approach to program design. This involves removing bureaucratic barriers for people who often lack basic prerequisites for employment (i.e., documentation and an address) and providing stipends and access to support resources directly after cleanings.
#3: We provide a unique opportunity for inclusion for a population that often suffers from extreme social isolation. Because humans are neurologically hard-wired for connection, our model engages both unhoused and housed people (our founder and members of our board clean alongside our unhoused clients on a weekly basis) to take part in a dignified, community-serving activity in a made-for-fun space. This eliminates the awkward social dynamics that exist in many charitable service offerings and helps break down very real social barriers that unhoused people experience while living on the streets.
#4: Our model is rooted in the demographics of homelessness and landscaping. 70% of unhoused individuals nationally are single men. Landscaping is a male-dominated industry requiring very low levels of education. Hygiene—a major barrier to securing and maintaining most forms of employment for unhoused people—isn’t an issue.
Demographic Data from our Unhoused Clients:
Gender
- Male: 87%
- Female: 12%
- Prefer not to state: 1%
- Latino: 56%
- Caucasian: 26%
- African American: 10%
- Native American: 3%
- Other: 5%
- 18 to 29: 3%
- 30 to 45: 32%
- 46 to 60: 37%
- 61+: 28%
- Tent: 35%
- Car/RV: 21%
- Completely unsheltered: 19%
- Temporary housing/apartment situation: 14%
- Shelter: 10%
- Hotel room until housing: 1%
The Benefit for Public Parks: A Cost-Effective Community Solution to Funding Shortages
Significant reductions in funding for city parks have been a national trend since the Great Recession. With the exception of the one-time COVID stimulus, this trend has been exacerbated by the pandemic and disproportionately affects low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.
As a result, the City of San Jose’s Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department has specifically highlighted community solutions in their ActivateSJ Strategic Plan (2020 - 2040) as a way to meet anticipated budget shortages over the coming decades. We believe Neighborhood Hands can be one of these community solutions.
As a result, the City of San Jose’s Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department has specifically highlighted community solutions in their ActivateSJ Strategic Plan (2020 - 2040) as a way to meet anticipated budget shortages over the coming decades. We believe Neighborhood Hands can be one of these community solutions.
The Benefit for Homeless Service Providers: Safe and Efficient Access to Unhoused Clients
Many homeless outreach programs and mobile services aiming to reach the most highly at-risk individuals (those who are completely unsheltered) have a very tall order: approach small groups of unhoused people (i.e., usually two to five) via foot or vehicle and inquire if the individuals want to learn more about XYZ service offering. This mode of outreach poses obvious safety risks for service workers and is largely inefficient.
By attracting unhoused people to a positive community environment in a made-for-fun space, our model not only offers both safer and more efficient access to seriously at-risk clients, it builds trust fast; an essential starting point for successful case management work.
By attracting unhoused people to a positive community environment in a made-for-fun space, our model not only offers both safer and more efficient access to seriously at-risk clients, it builds trust fast; an essential starting point for successful case management work.
Testimonials
"Neighborhood Hands is the highlight of my week, every week. The community makes me feel a part of something and the cleaning opportunity gives me hope. I just wish it would happen more often." - Jon, unhoused partner
"We like coming to Neighborhood Hands because we are part of a community and we support each other. The stipend we get helps us with food and gas. If the program was expanded it would really help us because we have had no income for a year and we have a lot of health problems." - Pamela, unhoused partner
"I like Neighborhood Hands because it brings people together. It is not just about the stipend. People are lonely, but here they can talk to each other. If the program was expanded it would allow me to make needed repairs that I am not able to do now." - Joe, unhoused partner
"The consistent access [Neighborhood Hands provides] to a large community of unhoused people outside of the shelter space is unique. It is a honey-hole for service providers like us." - Roberta, Gardner Mobile Health Services
"I've been telling my city co-workers about Neighborhood Hands for months. This model could be replicated all over the city."
- Brandon, San Jose Parks Facilities Supervisor
"We like coming to Neighborhood Hands because we are part of a community and we support each other. The stipend we get helps us with food and gas. If the program was expanded it would really help us because we have had no income for a year and we have a lot of health problems." - Pamela, unhoused partner
"I like Neighborhood Hands because it brings people together. It is not just about the stipend. People are lonely, but here they can talk to each other. If the program was expanded it would allow me to make needed repairs that I am not able to do now." - Joe, unhoused partner
"The consistent access [Neighborhood Hands provides] to a large community of unhoused people outside of the shelter space is unique. It is a honey-hole for service providers like us." - Roberta, Gardner Mobile Health Services
"I've been telling my city co-workers about Neighborhood Hands for months. This model could be replicated all over the city."
- Brandon, San Jose Parks Facilities Supervisor
Additional Survey Data from our Unhoused Clients:
- 39% are willing to travel over one hour to attend cleanings
- 77% have attended more than ten cleanings
- 81% are willing to provide a testimonial about the impact our humble pilot program has had on their lives