About OUR NONPROFIT
How it All Started
Since 2000, the property occupying the former Carpenter’s Union Hall has operated as a non-profit hostel to help make the Monterey Peninsula more accessible to all, though especially younger travelers. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the nonprofit that operated the hostel could not remain in operation, and Monterey Hostel was permanently closed in 2020. In response to the sudden closure, HostelingOn was founded to help save the hostel in Monterey. HostelingOn is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting the hostel movement.
Monterey Hostel provides lodging to around 10,000 guests annually, many of whom are youthful travelers, student groups, and families who are otherwise priced out of being able to access and experience the coast. According to the Monterey County Travel Impact Report, the average visitor spent $371/night per person on lodging in 2022. Rates soar even higher on the Monterey peninsula. Schools in the region rely on Monterey Hostel to provide lower-cost lodging so students can stay overnight on the coast and experience educational institutions like the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The money guests save by staying in a hostel is spent supporting neighboring restaurants, small businesses, and area attractions.
Our effort to save Monterey Hostel has been a challenging labor of love. It has taken over 3 years to navigate permitting, development, and renovations alone. There were many building issues discovered throughout the course of construction, a reality not uncommon for remodels of older buildings. We invested over a million dollars to reduce barriers to accessing or enjoying the coast for individuals living with physical disabilities. This includes 2 newly renovated accessible guest rooms, bathrooms with roll-in showers, a wheelchair-accessible kitchen, and a new exterior deck and ramp that connects our building with accessible parking, public transportation (<0.1m,) and the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail (0.2m).
We rely on the support of our neighbors and guests to provide this valuable service to guests coming to learn about and experience the natural beauty of Monterey Bay. If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation or donating items to help support our mission, we would be so so grateful. If you want to donate your time and resources to help sponsor one of our community projects, please reach out.
Thank you for the love and encouragement many of you have shown us throughout this journey. We look forward to being a good neighbor and sharing the wonder of our region with guests for decades to come!
A Brief History
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1945
1945 Carpenters Local Union 1323 (as memorialized on the building's front facade) opened their office and meeting hall at the corner of Hawthorne/Irving in 1945. The hall was used as the headquarters for various trade unions, the Democratic party headquarters during elections, and as a local church.
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2000
2000 After years of planning and fundraising, the Carpenters Union Hall was sold and opened as a hostel on Christmas Day by the Central California Council of American Youth Hostels. This was the first hostel on the Monterey Peninsula.
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2014
2014 - 2020 Hostelling International USA acquired the property and took over the operation connecting Monterey with their large network of hostels around the globe. The hostel operated as HI Monterey Hostel until its closure in early 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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2024
2024 HostelingOn, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting hostels, was founded in response to the hostel's sudden closure. the Monterey Hostel reopens after a 3-year effort of trying to save and reopen its doors as a non-profit, independent hostel operated by HostelingOn. HostelingOn is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting the hostel movement.
Donations &
Volunteer Opportunities
We need your help
Donations
Hello! We are a new nonprofit aiming to make Monterey Bay more accessible and affordable for backpackers, families, and school students.
Our guests learn about water and energy conservation, sharing resources, and the value of hosteling as a more sustainable form of tourism. To help further our mission and to make our guests feel welcome in Monterey,
We could use the following donated items:
– Landscape rock or mulch
-Succulent cuttings
-Herbs cuttings (to share with the neighborhood)
– Meyer Lemon or citrus tree (to share with the neighborhood)
– Outdoor umbrella
– Fire Pit
– Propane
– Garden House and holder
-Shop Vac
– Bar Stools
– Ladder
– Lockers
Thank you!
Volunteer Opportunities
If you are a neighbor or local business that wishes to volunteer or sponsor a project, we would love to partner with you! Here are some ideas and goals we have based on some current needs:
SPONSOR A FLOWER OR HERB GARDEN
We have 4 container gardens, perimiter beds, and a large concrete planter with 2 California Live Oak Trees. We can use help weeding, planting, and loving these drought tolerant gardens! We want to plant herbs to share with neighbors.
LEAD A WALKING TOUR OR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
Hosteling is important for connecting travelers with the history and culture of the places they visit. Are you interested in hosting a recurring hike, walking tour, bike ride, etc? We are looking for local volunteers interested in donating their time to lead nature activities for our guests.
HOST A COMMUNITY MEAL
Many of our guests are young international travelers and students backpacking through the US on a budget. Volunteer to cook pancakes sometimes or drop off day-old bagels or doughnuts for our guests. Nothing goes to waste in a hostel! We welcome partnerships that connect our guests with locals.
HOST A COMMUNITY MEETING
While our facility primarily exists to serve budget travelers coming to experience Monterey, we welcome opportunities to share our hostel and our story with community organizations. We are open to hosting community Q&As, board meetings, or workshops that help us promote hosteling to our community.
RAIN OR GROUNDWATER CAPTURE SYSTEM
We currently lack a way to capture rainwater draining off our roof to use for irrigation. We also collect groundwater via a french drain, but it is pumped into the city’s stormwater system. We would someone to design and sponsor a system to allow us to repurpose this water.
OTHER IDEAS?
We are open to other ideas and partnerships that teach our guests about environmental conservation and local history. Have an idea for how you can volunteer with our organization? Reach out!
