“Safe, Warm, and Dry First!”
AHHA was formed in 2011 when homelessness became the visible face of the Occupy Movement. The founders of AHHA connected on the Humboldt County courthouse steps while the lawn below hosted a 24-hour tent encampment occupation.
A nonprofit 501c3 organization since 2016, we work directly with the unhoused population and believe everyone has a right to the safe, warm shelter that is a required condition to achieving a healthy, productive life. Because of our intimate knowledge of and connection to the unhoused community, we have taken a frontline position in advocating for basic human rights here in Humboldt County.
AHHA is a volunteer-powered and community-driven initiative. Because the government does not necessarily see our bottom-up model of community managed solutions as feasible, despite the fact that they have been proven to work in other areas of the country, we are relying on your support to make affordable alternative housing a reality for those at need in Humboldt County.
Our projects include:
The AHHA Shower Care-A-Van
The mobile shower Care-A-Van is AHHA’s largest outreach service. With three full hot-water shower units, one of them fully ADA-accessible, the Care-A-Van meets people where they are. We have provided more than 7000 showers to more than 16,000 guests across Humboldt County,
The mobile shower Care-A-Van serves the unhoused population of Eureka and Arcata on a bi-weekly basis and McKinleyville and Rio Dell once a month. Besides offering steaming hot showers, our team of volunteers distributes personal hygiene items, fresh socks and underwear, prepared lunches, dog care, fresh produce and donated clothing items, including jackets, jeans, shoes and other outdoor gear.
Resident and Nonprofit Co-Managed Micro Housing Villages and Campgrounds
Our larger vision includes the construction of cost-effective and high-quality-of-life tiny home villages and campgrounds with community kitchens, gardens, restrooms, showers, and microbusinesses located throughout Humboldt County
We engage with the community and local organizations to build strong, collaborative Working Groups, and successful community coalitions to create housing/shelter alternatives for the homeless and maximize affordable micro-housing options.
Advocacy
AHHA members and volunteers actively advocate on behalf of the homeless community at city and county meetings and public events, festivals, and forums. Protecting the rights of the most vulnerable and ensuring compliance with basic human rights guarantees lies at the heart of our work.
Join Us!