Vision
A world where every neighbor thrives—where dignity, opportunity, and community uplift all. At Neighborhood Hands, we envision a future where no one is left behind, where compassion fuels collective action, and where together, we build a stronger, more just, society.
Priority Stakeholders
- Unhoused and very low-income neighbors
- Nonprofit, private, and public sector community partners
- Housed volunteers
- Parks
Strategic Pillars
- As a “connector” organization, mobilize the community, facilitate collective action and collaboration, and help bridge social capital for neighbors at the margins.
- Create opportunities for joy and thriving through in-person social connection and shared community beautification activities.
- Reshape harmful narratives around neighbors experiencing homelessness through education and centering unhoused voices and lived experience.
- Maximize operational sustainability and performance via a small staff, army of volunteers, and organizational culture of diversity, inclusion, and commitment to excellence.
Wisdom Informing our Model and Vision
"Community connectedness is not just about warm fuzzy tales of civic triumph. In measurable and well-documented ways, social capital makes an enormous difference in our lives...social capital makes us smarter, healthier, safer, richer, and better able to govern a just and stable democracy." - Robert D. Putnam, American political scientist
"Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an under appreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health. Given the significant health consequences of loneliness and isolation, we must prioritize building social connection the same way we have prioritized other critical public health issues such as tobacco, obesity, and substance use disorders." - Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General
"It is in proximity that we understand things we cannot understand from a distance." - Bryan Stevenson, founder and Executive Director, Equal Justice Initiative
"Systems change when people do, and people change when they're cherished." - Greg Boyle, founder and Executive Director, Homeboy Industries
"Humans are neurologically wired for connection. It’s why we’re here, we all need it." -Brené Brown, American professor, author, and podcast host
“It is in the shelter of each other that people live.” - Irish saying
"Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an under appreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health. Given the significant health consequences of loneliness and isolation, we must prioritize building social connection the same way we have prioritized other critical public health issues such as tobacco, obesity, and substance use disorders." - Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General
"It is in proximity that we understand things we cannot understand from a distance." - Bryan Stevenson, founder and Executive Director, Equal Justice Initiative
"Systems change when people do, and people change when they're cherished." - Greg Boyle, founder and Executive Director, Homeboy Industries
"Humans are neurologically wired for connection. It’s why we’re here, we all need it." -Brené Brown, American professor, author, and podcast host
“It is in the shelter of each other that people live.” - Irish saying