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Right now, just outside Ensenada, Mexico, less than 100 miles from where you may live, is a family sleeping on a dirt floor under a roof made of scrap tarp. They own their small piece of land, but not the means to build a permanent dwelling on it. This April, we have the chance to change that — in one weekend.

This April 2–4, 2027, Hands of Hope for Baja will take our first build trip alongside Baja Bound, a nonprofit that has spent over 25 years building safe, dignified homes for working families in the communities surrounding Ensenada. We’ll be working shoulder-to-shoulder with experienced build leaders, our team, and the family itself to construct a secure home in just a few days — and we need your help to fund it.

The Need

The families Baja Bound serves, own their land, but because many work in the fields for low wages, they live in sub-standard housing that is unsafe and unhealthy — dirt floors, exposed walls, and roofs that offer little protection from sun, rain, and cold. The health toll of a dirt floor alone is well documented. Independent research on housing interventions in Mexico has found that replacing a dirt floor with a concrete one leads to:

• 78% reduction in parasitic infestation rates in children
• 49% reduction in the prevalence of diarrhea
• 81% reduction in anemia
• 36-96% improvement in cognitive development in young children

A floor is not a luxury. It’s a foundation for a healthier childhood.

What We’re Building

Working alongside Baja Bound’s experienced build leaders and the local community, our team will construct a secure, insulated home for a family in need — built on a solid concrete slab, with a real roof, an upgraded outhouse, a water tank, and beds. The house itself goes up in just a few days, but the impact — improved health, stability, and dignity — will last for generations.

Those of us who have volunteered on builds like this before know the experience leaves a lasting mark — not only on the family receiving a home, but on everyone who supports and participates in the build. When you give, you become part of something truly meaningful.

How You Can Help

Please consider donating to cover building expenses, and sharing this page with your friends, family, co-workers, and community. We will acknowledge every donor and send photos and updates before, during, and after the build so you can see the direct impact of your generosity. Baja Bound is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so your gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Want to join the build team making the April trip?

Participant cost includes lodging and meals for the duration of the trip at $174 per person.

• Sign up here to participate
• Venmo participant fee ($174) to Betsy Read: @Betsy-Read-1
• View current list of participants

Thank you for helping us build hope — one home at a time. Together, we can do this.

With gratitude,
Hands of Hope Build Team
& Our Baja Bound Community

Make a Donation | Sign Up to Participate | Current List of Participants