Joshua’s House
Opening Mid-Summer 2025
A home for terminally ill patients at risk of homelessness, Joshua’s House offers world-class hospice care delivered with dignity, compassion, and grace. It’s the first of its kind on the West Coast, and a model for what community-based, patient-centered, values-driven partners can do to address the end of life challenges of unsheltered and unhoused Californians often face in these uncertain times.
“Dying is hard but dying alone and on the streets is hell.”
—John Grey
At Joshua’s House, we provide dignity, compassion, and grace, taking the hell out of dying alone and on the streets.
Located in South Natomas, Joshua’s House hosts 15 patients at a time in a warm and welcoming home-like setting. Each patient receives trauma-informed end-of-life care and support that reflects their personal values, goals and individual needs. Hospice care is provided either by YoloCares, a Joint Commission accredited agency, or by one of our licensed health system partners.
For Our Health System Referring Partners
As a program of YoloCares, care at Joshua’s House complies with Federal, State, and regional requirements for sheltering unhoused individuals and with YoloCares’ longstanding high standards for quintessential end of life care and safety, security, and administration of medications and controlled substances.
Joshua’s House cares for up to 15 resident-patients who are supported by professional on-site staff 24/7/365. On-site staff includes:
- Program/Site Manager
- Caregivers and/or CNAs
- End-of-Life Doulas
- Security
- Maintenance
Professional hospice teams (physicians, nurses, hospice aides, social workers, spiritual care counselors, and volunteers) visit patients, much like they do with patients at board-and-care facilities.
Most Joshua’s House patients come from Sacramento County, but patient-residents may also be referred from any one of the following counties:
- Sacramento
- Solano
- Sutter
- Placer
- Yolo
- Colusa
- Napa
For questions or to discuss unique circumstances regarding referrals, please contact Dee Rasilau, Joshua’s House Manager at arasilau@yolocares.org or the Patient Access team patientaccess@yolocares.org (or phone us at 530.758.5566). We are committed to working collaboratively to ensure all eligible patients receive compassionate end-of-life care in a timely manner.
To Volunteer
Volunteers at Joshua’s House are essential to our mission of providing compassionate end-of-life care to those who would otherwise die unsheltered or unhoused. Through their acts of kindness, dignity, and respect, our volunteers ensure that no one has to endure die alone and on the streets.
By giving their time, skills, and talents, volunteers play a crucial role in creating a home-like environment, meeting basic needs, and offering life-enriching programs. Their support amplifies our ability to assist those in need, particularly during their most vulnerable moments.
At Joshua’s House, volunteers make a lasting impact, offering care and companionship when it matters most—ensuring that each individual receives the attention and dignity they deserve during their final days. Together, we stand by the belief that no one should face the end of life without the compassionate presence of people who care.
Volunteer opportunities include: reading to patients, writing their stories, shopping, connecting with loved ones, transportation, helping with cleaning, laundry, and other household tasks. In addition, trained volunteer End of Life Doulas support patients during the active dying process, ensuring that no one needs to die alone and without the presence of a loving human companion.
For questions about volunteering or to discuss ways you can offer your skills and interests, please contact Elisa Stone, Manager of Volunteer Programs, at estone@yolocares.org or call 530.758.5566.
Make a donation today
Joshua’s House relies on the kindness and support of donors like you. Every dollar you give goes directly to the people, resources, and facilities that help us provide world-class end-of-life care to hundreds of people every year who otherwise might die on the streets.
You can choose from several ways to contribute, including setting up a recurring monthly donation, starting at just $5 per month. Every donor makes a difference.
Together, we can create ways for every person to feel valued, respected, and cared for at the end of their lives no matter what kind of challenges they’ve faced in their lives.
For questions or to discuss ways you can contribute, please contact Louise Joyce, Director of Community Programs, at ljoyce@yolocares.org or call 530.758.5566.
