On a crisp autumn Saturday morning with the sky still a deep blue before hues of orange and pink line the horizon, not even the thunderous roars from airplanes overhead could drown out the enthusiasm and joy at San Jose’s Guadalupe Gardens.

While most of the city slept in their warm, comfy beds, hundreds of homeless residents gathered around the crack of dawn to help clean up the park in exchange for a $20 cash stipend offered by the nonprofit Neighborhood Hands. It’s a familiar sight, as they’ve been coming here every other weekend since the organization rebooted in 2020.

For many, it’s more than the opportunity to earn some money and clean up the park. The program has profoundly impacted these residents, offering them hope and a sense of belonging — especially people like 54-year-old D

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