Clients and Data
Primary Clients: Unhoused Neighbors, Homeless Service Providers, & Public Parks
The Benefit for Unhoused Neighbors: No-Barrier Access to Positive Community, Resources, and Social Capital
Through countless hours cleaning alongside unhoused volunteers, listening, and conducting research both locally and nationally, we understand our community-based homeless outreach and park cleaning model to be a magnet for the following reasons.
#1: We provide a unique opportunity for inclusion and belonging for a population that often suffers from extreme social isolation. Humans are neurologically hard-wired for connection and need positive socialization to thrive. Our model intentionally engages both unhoused and housed neighbors (our founder and board members clean alongside unhoused volunteers every program) to join together via a dignified, community-serving activity in a comfortable space. This breaks down very real social barriers that people experiencing homelessness face while living on the streets, and provides access to new friends, networks, and social capital.
#2 We provide efficient access to resources through the ever-growing Neighborhood Hands Community. We've heard over and over again that it's a 40-hour/week job to navigate the complex web of brick and mortar nonprofits that offer specialized resources or services. By attracting large numbers of unhoused people and service providers to the same location at a predictable time, we provide efficient and convenient connection (and no barriers) to essential resources.
Demographic Data from 93 Unhoused Or Very Low-Income Volunteers from our October 4, 2025 Survey:
Gender
#1: We provide a unique opportunity for inclusion and belonging for a population that often suffers from extreme social isolation. Humans are neurologically hard-wired for connection and need positive socialization to thrive. Our model intentionally engages both unhoused and housed neighbors (our founder and board members clean alongside unhoused volunteers every program) to join together via a dignified, community-serving activity in a comfortable space. This breaks down very real social barriers that people experiencing homelessness face while living on the streets, and provides access to new friends, networks, and social capital.
#2 We provide efficient access to resources through the ever-growing Neighborhood Hands Community. We've heard over and over again that it's a 40-hour/week job to navigate the complex web of brick and mortar nonprofits that offer specialized resources or services. By attracting large numbers of unhoused people and service providers to the same location at a predictable time, we provide efficient and convenient connection (and no barriers) to essential resources.
Demographic Data from 93 Unhoused Or Very Low-Income Volunteers from our October 4, 2025 Survey:
Gender
- Male: 79%
- Female: 20%
- Non-binary: 1%
- 13-17: 2%
- 18-29: 3%
- 30-45: 23%
- 46 to 64: 54%
- 65+: 18%
- English: 68%
- Spanish: 31%
- Vietnamese: 1%
- Latino/Hispanic: 47%
- White/Caucasian: 22%
- Black/African American: 9%
- Asian: 7%
- Native American: 2%
- Mixed/Other: 13%
- Single - 82%
- Married/have a partner - 15%
- Declined to answer: 3%
- Temporary shelter (e.g. motel, tiny home, homeless shelter): 36%
- Outside (i.e., completely unsheltered): 18%
- Regular house or apartment (i.e., NOT currently experiencing homelessness): 18%
- Permanent supportive housing: 9%
- Tent: 7%
- Vehicle: 5%
- Temporary situation with friend or family (e.g. couch surfing): 5%
- Declined to answer: 2%
- Yes - 73%
- No - 26%
- Declined to answer: 1%
- No job - 32%
- Have a job but not enough income (rent is too expensive) - 17%
- Waitlist for housing is so long - 11%
- Missing documents - 11%
- Declined to answer - 9%
- Housing restrictions (e.g. won't allow pets, partner, etc.) - 7%
- N/A (housed) - 4%
- Disability - 3%
- Social security isn't enough - 2%
- Domestic violence/mental issue - 1%
- Positive community / chance to see friends- 31%
- Declined to answer - 25%
- Cash stipend - 23%
- Feels good to clean the park - 8%
- All of the above - 8%
- Something to keep busy - 4%
- Resource fair - 1%
- First time- 11%
- 2-25 (been coming less than 1 year) - 55%
- 26+ (been coming over 1 year) - 34%
- Positive community- 34%
- Cash stipend - 30%
- Feels good to clean the park - 19%
- Resource fair - 10%
- All of the above - 7%
- Resume / getting a job - 28%
- Finding affordable housing - 14%
- Connecting with government services (e.g., Medi-Cal, CalFresh) - 11%
- Many of the above - 9%
- Cell Phone - 8%
- Legal services - 8%
- Mental health / therapy - 7%
- Reconnecting with family - 4%
- Substance use disorder / addiction - 2%
- Navigating pet restrictions - 2%
- Declined to answer - 2%
- Hot food - 2%
- Help getting into a shelter - 1%
- Vehicle repairs - 1%
- Transportation - 1%
- Food - 51%
- Transportation - 11%
- Drugs, alcohol, or tobacco - 10%
- Phone - 8%
- Many of the above - 5%
- Clothing - 3%
- Hygiene - 3%
- Dog food - 2%
- Rent / shelter - 2%
- Declined to answer - 2%
- Share with others - 1%
- Movie tickets - 1%
- Utilities - 1%
- A great deal - 56%
- A moderate amount - 30%
- A little - 7%
- Not at all - 4%
- Declined to answer- 3%
- Cell phone / text - 58%
- Email - 27%
- Don't have a cell phone or email - 12%
- Don't want to be contacted - 2%
- Declined to answer- 1%
The Benefit for Homeless Service Providers: Efficient Access to Unhoused Clients
Traditional homeless outreach methods which aim to reach the most highly at-risk individuals (those who are completely unsheltered) have a very tall order: approach potential clients on foot or vehicle and try to convince them to learn more about XYZ service offering, which usually exists miles away from the conversation being had. This method of outreach is not terribly helpful for unhoused residents -- whose lived realities are rarely conducive to traveling from A to B to C to Z to get the myriad services they need -- and is an inefficient allocation of limited resources, given the salaries involved with staffing such outreach.
By attracting large numbers of unhoused residents to a positive community environment at a predictable time, our model offers extremely efficient access and connection for two key stakeholder groups -- homeless service providers and unhoused residents -- in a comfortable space.
By attracting large numbers of unhoused residents to a positive community environment at a predictable time, our model offers extremely efficient access and connection for two key stakeholder groups -- homeless service providers and unhoused residents -- in a comfortable space.
The Benefit for Public Parks: A 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.
"Neighborhood Hands met the moment at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in responding to critical needs to support our unhoused neighbors and enhance the quality of our parks and public spaces. They pioneered and continue to nurture an innovative, energizing, and impactful program model. We are grateful to partner with them in our vision to uplift our community through parks and realize Guadalupe River Park & Gardens as San Jose's front yard." -- Joe Salvato, Deputy Director, Guadalupe River Park Conservancy
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.
"Neighborhood Hands met the moment at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in responding to critical needs to support our unhoused neighbors and enhance the quality of our parks and public spaces. They pioneered and continue to nurture an innovative, energizing, and impactful program model. We are grateful to partner with them in our vision to uplift our community through parks and realize Guadalupe River Park & Gardens as San Jose's front yard." -- Joe Salvato, Deputy Director, Guadalupe River Park Conservancy
