Home of Guiding Hands.
Home of Guiding Hands (HGH) is best known for their premier residential services for individuals diagnosed with a developmental or intellectual disability. Managing 31 community based residential homes, they care for over 150 residents around the clock. Residents range in ages from 12 to 84, live in comfortable neighborhood-based homes, and receive 24-hour care based on individual levels of need. HGH has been committed to providing quality community support and critical housing for children, men and women for over 51 years. Initiated by a group of ambitious East County leaders, HGH has evolved from a single 14-acre campus, to a provider of a full spectrum of services to more than 3,200 infants, adolescents and adults throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties. To be eligible for services, individuals must have a primary diagnosis of a developmental and/or intellectual disability such as Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy or epilepsy.
The basis behind the organizations success is the belief that individuals can thrive in settings that offer a more fulfilling lifestyle, provide personalized attention, focus on increased opportunities for self-sufficiency and encourage greater community integration and access. A large part of the community integration and access is credited to the exceptional transportation services that HGH offers. The organization operates a full fleet of customized vehicles that includes 23 busses, 43 vans and 19 full-time drivers covering the communities of San Diego, National City, Chula Vista, San Ysidro, El Cajon, Santee, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley and Lakeside. HGH provides 500 rides to over 295 individuals, daily. Nearly 97 of those clients attend the STEP adult developmental center, a program located in National City, that provides vocational and therapeutic services exclusively to individuals in wheelchair
Recently, HGH was awarded a generous 1.2 million dollar grant from SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments) which helped HGH purchase new busses and vans, and allowed the removal of older vehicles from its fleet. SANDAG is the San Diego region’s primary public planning, transportation, and research agency, providing the public forum for regional policy decisions about growth, transportation planning and construction, housing, public safety and more.
As HGH celebrates another year of providing premier transportation services to San Diegans and their families, they quickly give credit to their transportation staff for ensuring the comfort and safety of each passenger. Mark Klaus, Chief Executive Officer for Home of Guiding Hands shares with Giving Back Magazine, “It is only through the tireless efforts of our talented and dedicated staff that we are able to operate in a fiscally responsible, sustainable and effective manner.” He praises the drivers and the aides working in transportation for the departments track record of client satisfaction and success
For more information about Home of Guiding Hands, contact Kaye Kelley at (619) 938-2850 or visit www.guidinghands.org.
