Get help

If you need a hand,
just ask.

There is no fee, no application maze, and no catch. Here is exactly who we help, what we can do, and how to start the conversation.

Who we help

We exist for neighbors who need a hand and do not have a good way to pay for one. In practice that means four groups, and you only need to fit one of them:

  • Older adults who are still in their own home and want to stay there, but can no longer safely climb a ladder, get on a roof, or spend a day in the yard.
  • People living with a disability or a health condition that makes ordinary household tasks difficult, painful, or unsafe.
  • Households with limited income, where a repair that would cost a few hundred dollars competes directly with rent, food, or medication.
  • Neighbors recovering from a disaster such as a fire, a flood, or a storm, who are trying to get their home back in order.

We serve San Diego County. We do not means-test aggressively or ask for a stack of paperwork. We ask enough questions to understand your situation and to be fair to everyone waiting.

What we actually do

The honest answer is that it depends on what you need. Some of what we do is repair work. A lot of it is not. A short and incomplete list:

  • Small home repairs: a leaking faucet, a failing light fixture, a door that will not latch, drywall damage, a running toilet.
  • Safety work: grab bars, handrails, better lighting, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, clearing a trip hazard, a ramp or a threshold.
  • Yard and exterior: overgrown yards, brush clearance, gutters, hauling away debris, weeds, a fence panel that blew down.
  • Household tasks: moving heavy furniture, replacing hard-to-reach bulbs, seasonal chores, getting things down from an attic or up from a garage.
  • Errands and transportation of goods: a grocery run, picking up a prescription, hauling a donation to a thrift store, getting something bulky home from a store.
  • The thing you did not think to ask for. If it is keeping you from being safe and steady at home, start the conversation and we will tell you honestly whether we can help.

What we do not do

We want to be straight with you about our limits. We do not take on full remodels, structural work, or major systems replacement. We do not provide medical or personal care, and we are not a home health agency. We do not do emergency response. Work that requires a licensed trade is performed by our licensed partner contractors under their own license and insurance, and there are jobs where the right answer is a referral rather than a crew.

How it works

You reach out

Call, email, or send a note through this site. A family member, neighbor, social worker, or case manager can reach out on your behalf. You do not need to know exactly what you need or what to call it.

We have a real conversation

Someone from our team talks with you, usually by phone first. The point is to understand your situation, not to run you through a script. Often what gets asked for and what would actually help most are two different things, and that only comes out in conversation.

We look at the work

If it sounds like a fit, we come see it. We tell you plainly what we can do, what we cannot, and roughly when. If we cannot help, we try to point you to someone who can.

We do the work

A volunteer crew, a partner tradesperson, or both. You are told who is coming and when. Nobody knocks on your door unannounced.

We follow up

We check back after the work is done to make sure it held and to see whether anything else has come up.

Questions people ask

What does it cost?

Nothing. There is no fee, no deposit, and no bill afterward. Materials are paid for by donations. You are never asked to reimburse us, and you are never asked to donate.

Is there a catch?

No. Nobody will pitch you a service, ask about selling your home, or use your information for anything other than helping you. If anyone ever does, we want to hear about it directly.

Do I have to own my home?

Usually yes for repair work, because we need the owner's permission to alter the property. If you rent, we may still be able to help with yard work, errands, hauling, and similar tasks, or work with your landlord's written approval.

How long will it take?

It depends on the work and on how many people are waiting. We are a small organization and we would rather tell you an honest timeline than an optimistic one.

Who actually comes to my house?

Screened volunteers and, where licensed work is involved, vetted partner contractors. Anyone entering your home has completed a background check. You will know who is coming before they arrive.

Can I ask for help for someone else?

Yes, and it happens often. Adult children, neighbors, church members, and social workers reach out on someone's behalf all the time. We will still want to talk with the person themselves before we start.

Start here

Tell us what is going on.

You do not need the right words for it. Reach out and we will figure out together whether we are the right help.

Email us