Trust & Safety

Your safety comes first.

Handout exists so students far from home can find people they can trust. Here is exactly what we do to keep the community safe — and what you should do too.

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Emergency?

Call 911 first. Always. Then let us know what happened.

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Report a user

Email handout.corp@gmail.com — we review every report within 24 hours.

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Something feels off?

Trust your instincts. Block, leave, and tell us about it.

How we verify the community

•University email verification — every student signs up with a school email address and confirms it before they can message anyone.

•Provider screening — service providers submit ID and relevant licenses; childcare and ride providers must pass a background check before the Verified badge appears.

•Verified badges — the green check means we reviewed that profile's identity documents. No badge, no verification — treat accordingly.

•Reviews you can trust — only users who completed a booking can review it, and we investigate review manipulation.

Meeting someone from Handout

•Meet in a public place the first time — a campus café, library, or student center.

•Tell a friend where you are going and who you are meeting.

•Keep conversations and payments on the platform — that is what lets us step in if something goes wrong.

•Never share your password, banking details, or immigration documents with anyone.

•For roommate visits, bring a friend and never hand over a deposit before signing a written agreement.

What we act on

Reports of any of the following lead to investigation and can end in immediate, permanent removal:

•Harassment, threats, or hate speech

•Scams, fake listings, or requests to pay off-platform

•Impersonation or fake profiles

•Unsafe service conduct — unlicensed driving, unsafe childcare, and similar

•Any behavior involving minors or non-consensual content

How to report

Three ways, all reviewed by a human:

•Tap Report on any profile, listing, or message thread.

•Email handout.corp@gmail.com with screenshots if you have them.

•For anything urgent involving physical safety, contact local authorities first (911), then notify us.

We aim to respond to every safety report within 24 hours, and we never tell the reported person who reported them.