Terms of Service

Last updated: October 2025

Welcome to public.help. By using this website, you agree to these Terms of Service. Please read them carefully.

1. About public.help

public.help is operated as a community service project ("we," "us," or "our"). We provide a free directory of public resources and services to help people find assistance in their communities.

This website is designed for use within the United States only.

2. Emergency Disclaimer

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately.

public.help is an informational directory for finding community resources and services. It is not designed for emergency situations and should not be used as a substitute for emergency services.

This website provides information about community services that may help with various needs, but response times vary and services may not be immediately available. For immediate threats to life, health, or safety, always contact emergency services (911) or go to your nearest emergency room.

3. Use of Service

public.help is an informational directory service. We aggregate and display information about community resources, service providers, and programs. You may use this website to:

  • Search for community resources and services
  • View contact information and details about service providers
  • Access publicly available information about programs

You agree not to misuse this service, including but not limited to: automated scraping, attempting to access restricted areas, or using the information for purposes other than finding help for yourself or others.

4. Information Accuracy and Disclaimer

Important: The information on public.help is provided for general informational purposes only. We make every effort to keep information accurate and up-to-date, but:

  • Service information may change without notice (hours, eligibility, contact details, etc.)
  • We do not verify the quality, availability, or accuracy of services listed
  • We are not responsible for services provided by third-party organizations
  • Listings do not constitute endorsements or recommendations

Always contact service providers directly to confirm current information, eligibility requirements, and availability before visiting or relying on any service.

Help us keep information accurate: If you notice incorrect, outdated, or missing information about a service or organization, please let us know by contacting us at info@public.help. Your feedback helps us maintain a reliable directory for the community.

5. No Warranties

This website and all information provided are offered "as is" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to:

  • Accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of information
  • Availability of services listed
  • Fitness for a particular purpose
  • Uninterrupted or error-free operation of the website

6. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, public.help and its operators, sponsors, and contributors shall not be liable for any damages arising from:

  • Use of or inability to use this website
  • Reliance on information provided on this website
  • Inaccurate, outdated, or incomplete information about services
  • Services provided (or not provided) by third-party organizations listed on this website
  • Any interactions with service providers you contact

This includes, but is not limited to, direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages.

7. Intellectual Property

The public.help website design, logo, and original content are the property of the public.help project and its sponsors.

Information about service providers and organizations belongs to those respective entities and is displayed here for informational purposes only.

8. Privacy and Analytics

We use cookies and analytics to understand how people use our website and to improve our service. This helps us:

  • Understand which resources are most helpful
  • Identify areas where we can improve
  • Ensure the website is working properly

We do not collect personal information through this website. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy.

9. External Links

This website may contain links to external websites operated by service providers and other organizations. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or availability of external sites.

10. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms of Service from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the website after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

11. Governing Law

These Terms of Service are governed by the laws of the United States. Any disputes shall be resolved in accordance with U.S. law.

12. Accessibility

We are committed to making public.help accessible to all users, including people with disabilities. We strive to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards.

Our website undergoes automated accessibility testing before each deployment to ensure ongoing compliance with accessibility standards. We use semantic HTML, provide alternative text for images, support keyboard navigation, and maintain compatibility with screen readers and other assistive technologies.

If you experience accessibility barriers while using our site, please contact us at info@public.help so we can assist you and improve our service.

For detailed information about our accessibility features, testing procedures, known limitations, and how to report accessibility issues, please see our Accessibility Statement.

13. Content Removal and Correction Requests

Service providers, organizations, or their authorized representatives may request removal or correction of their information from public.help.

To submit a content removal or correction request, please contact us at info@public.help with:

  • Organization name and current listing URL (if applicable)
  • Specific information to be removed or corrected
  • Verification of authority to make the request (e.g., official email address, organizational documentation)
  • Preferred corrected information (for correction requests)

We will review all removal and correction requests and respond as quickly as possible. Requests from verified organizational representatives will be prioritized. Please note that removal from our directory does not affect information that may be publicly available from other sources.

14. Indemnification

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless public.help, its operators, sponsors, contributors, and partners from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

  • Your use of this website
  • Your reliance on information provided on this website
  • Your interactions with service providers or organizations listed on this website
  • Your violation of these Terms of Service
  • Your violation of any rights of another person or entity

This indemnification obligation will survive termination of your use of the website and these Terms of Service.

15. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us:

Email: info@public.help

By using public.help, you acknowledge that:

  • You have read and understood these Terms of Service
  • You agree to be bound by these terms
  • You understand that information may be outdated or inaccurate
  • You will verify all information directly with service providers before relying on it