Our Home
Quest House is more than just a place to stay – it’s a communal family home for healing and connection. Our spacious property offers peace and privacy inside and out, along with ample opportunities for socializing and support. Surgical guests and caregivers alike will find community with other folks who understand their experiences. Most home spaces are shared; guests can use the signs on their bedroom doors to indicate their desired level of interaction.
Location
Nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood, Quest House is an oasis in the heart of Oakland. We have quick and easy freeway access to SF and Marin and are a short bus ride to the BART station. Our home is less than a mile from everything you could want/need: local restaurants, big grocery stores, pharmacies, two hospitals, local parks and sightseeing spots, and more! Exact location provided only to confirmed guests after signing the privacy agreement.
The Property
Quest House is a large 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom home with an expansive yard with a garden full of beautiful flowers and fruit trees, an outdoor grill and pizza oven, a firepit, and so much more! We have laundry, a dishwasher, two fridges, and all the kitchen and home appliances you need to be comfortable. We have a library, craft supplies, exercise equipment, board games, TVs, video games, and more so you’ll never be bored. There is a driveway as well as on-street parking.
Our home is set up for surgery recovery. We have grab bars, bidets, handheld showerheads, walkers and other accessibility tools, recliners, and an expansive assortment of donated medical supplies. Each room has two beds and we will assign rooms according to individual needs.
Guest Feedback
"Quest house is a magical place. Going through phalloplasty is one of the most exciting, scary, and beautiful things I’ve ever done, and having a space and people that understand it allowed me to process such a drastic transformation."
“Each person that passes through Quest House’s doors feels how special it is. The space is like a little family where everyone gets really close, really fast, because you’re experiencing one of the most meaningful and intense times of your lives together.”
“When I began preparing myself for surgery, I envisioned the first month of recovery to be one of the most difficult experiences in my life. It is true, surgery is very challenging. However, what I learned is that being in a comfortable, beautiful and supportive space can transform the experience from one of mere pain to a beautiful, but very challenging personal journey."
“Staying at Quest House while recovering from bottom surgery is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I made the reservations hoping for a safe space to recover in peace. What I found was far better. I cannot recommend Quest House highly enough. 10000/10."
“I came to stay at Quest House for my second stage in my phalloplasty journey. I was a little bit anxious about being alone in another country and undergoing surgery without the support of family members, so I thought that Quest House would be the best fit for my needs since I would be staying with others. I am so happy that I made the decision to stay here! I really can't recommend this space enough to those of you who are looking for accommodations in the San Francisco area. Surgery is never a fun experience, but I had such a positive time here full of support, understanding, and lots of laughs. I can say without a doubt that you will feel comfortable here, and you will make new friendships with people who truly understand the hardships of this process.”
“I've stayed at Quest House three times, once for my phalloplasty and twice again for glansplasty and repairs. I honestly don't know how I would have managed all of this without this incredible space. The actual physical space is thoughtfully planned for the best recovery experience. There are intangible benefits to this space, too. The sense of humor, community, compassion and care are worth four times as much as the going rate of rental. I've made friends for life here, and it feels like Quest House is as much a part of my transition as anything else has been.”
FAQ
No, this is a community home and there will likely be several folks recovering here at the same time.
We welcome and highly encourage folks to bring caregivers, and all rooms have 2 beds for this purpose. All guests having either a stage one surgery or a penis creation stage required to have a caregiver. We reserve the right to extend this requirement to other high-need circumstances at our discretion.
While you can arrange additional support services, including some 1:1 help here and there, the house host is not available to be a primary personal caregiver. If you need help finding a caretaker, let us know ASAP and we will try to help you arrange one. We have some local contacts as well as a partnership with T4T Caregiving.
Unfortunately, no. Quest House isn’t appropriate for kids or pets; all guests must be human adults. We do have an emotional support dog, Sandy Cheeks, on premises who would be thrilled to chill with anyone who needs some animal time.
We have a large collection of donated medical supplies to share to cut down on costs, but you may still need to bring some of your own.
Yes. Quest House is not a medical facility and cannot provide you with prescription medication. We can absolutely help you pick up (and safely dispose of) your medications at the nearby pharmacies.
Yes. We are equidistant from 4 grocery stores and have a fully equipped kitchen…in addition to an outdoor pizza oven. We will host some communal meals and hope to be able to offer some snacks and donated meals, but food is otherwise not included.
We provide compassionate companionate care, and can set up caregiving support, but we are not a medical facility.
Our program is unique in that it is an intentional affinity space founded and run by post-op transmasculine folks for post-op transmasculine folks.Transmasculine bottom surgery is a uniquely intense experience, and we believe strongly in the value and necessity of a space where we can heal with others who understand.
We aim for Quest House to be an inclusive community space where all transmasculine folks are welcomed, witnessed, and supported. We center healing justice and view our work through an intersectional lens, striving to create opportunities to uplift marginalized community members through scholarships and partnerships with BIPOC-focused organizations. We are actively working to build a leadership team that reflects the diversity of our experiences.
Yes. Many of our guests and some of our team members are stealth. We welcome and respect all identities and experiences. You are welcome to be as involved in our community as you’d like, nobody outside of the home will know anything about why you’re here, and everybody will be asked to sign a privacy agreement.
