About Humboldt Friends | Humboldt County Friendship App

What Humboldt Friends Does

Humboldt Friends helps adults in Humboldt County find real local connection through feed posts, neighborhood discussions, friend interviews, support tools, human-interest storytelling, and higher-trust friend-making features as they become available.

The project is rooted in disability inclusion, community care, accessibility, and practical safety. It began from a desire to reduce isolation for autistic and developmentally disabled adults, then expanded into a broader local community app because friendship, belonging, and support matter to everyone.

Non-Commercial Disability-Led Project

Humboldt Friends is not a for-profit company. It is a small, non-commercial, disability-led project connected to California's Self-Determination Program and Medicaid-waiver goals of friendship, inclusion, and community participation.

The founder is an autistic adult who operates and participates in Humboldt Friends as an equal member. The project may later transition to a nonprofit or other public-interest structure while keeping the same privacy, inclusion, and safety principles.

Services and Operations

Local social media posts and neighborhood discussion areas.
Human-interest news and storytelling about Humboldt County people, places, and community life.
Phone and voice account verification for account integrity and abuse prevention.
Optional account-status SMS messages for setup, support, safety, and Friend Interview updates.
In-person Friend Interviews for higher-trust features such as chats, PenPals, private messaging, meet-ups, walking buddies, shopping friends, and activity partners.
Support and safety review workflows for accessibility, account help, content reports, and community accountability.

Who Humboldt Friends Serves

Humboldt Friends serves adults 18 and older in Humboldt County, California, including Arcata, Eureka, McKinleyville, Fortuna, Ferndale, Trinidad, Blue Lake, Rio Dell, Loleta, Scotia, Willow Creek, Garberville, Redway, Hoopa, and nearby communities.

The app is designed for local adults, including people who are neurodiverse, disabled, isolated, new to the area, quiet, anxious, creative, older, vulnerable, or simply looking for community without pressure.

Safety and Community Trust

Members must be adults 18 and older.
Members use their own phone number and account.
SMS subscription and account phone checks help reduce fake accounts, bots, and impersonation.
Higher-trust features may require an in-person Friend Interview with valid California ID or California driver's license.
Community reports, moderation, and support records help protect member safety, health, welfare, identity integrity, emergency response, and community accountability.

Values

Friendship before status.
Inclusion over isolation.
Safety with dignity.
Accessibility and plain-language support.
No ads, no data sales, and no manipulation.
Local relationships that support Humboldt County life.

SMS Account Messages

Account text messages may come from +1 (833) 435-4442. They can include account setup, account status, support, Friend Interview, safety, and service-related messages. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply.

Reply STOP to opt out or HELP for help. SMS opt-in is required before feed access and the account phone check so Humboldt Friends can confirm control of the account phone number before posting opens.

The public opt-in proof is separate from the Terms page: SMS Opt-In Proof.

Policies

The public policy pages explain the Privacy Policy and Service Agreement, account rules, privacy rights, SMS terms, SMS opt-in, member responsibilities, safety review, support, and contact options.

Contact Information

Email: [email protected]

Text or call: +1 (833) 435-4442

Location: Arcata, California, serving all of Humboldt County.

Mailing address: 1935 H St 7A, Arcata, CA 95521.

General support hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time. Weekend inquiries may be answered on the next business day.