Frequently asked questions

FIMBY is currently live in the V6A postal code area of Vancouver — Strathcona, parts of Chinatown, and the Downtown Eastside. We’re growing neighbourhood by neighbourhood.

Anyone 19 or older (BC age of majority) who lives in an active FIMBY neighbourhood. You don’t need to be part of any organization or community group. FIMBY is open to everyone — sign-up requires you to attest that you are 19 or older and able to agree to the Terms.

Enter your postal code on our homepage. If your neighbourhood is active, you’ll be guided through a short onboarding that includes setting your name, photo, and care preferences.

Yes. FIMBY is free to use. There are no ads, no premium tiers, and no hidden costs.

FIMBY is designed for brief check-ins, not constant scrolling. A typical week might look like seeing a couple of asks or offers from neighbours, browsing the lending library, or noticing an event you want to attend. Some weeks you might not open it at all. That’s fine — FIMBY is meant to be there when you need it, not to demand your attention.

You can post asks (things you need), offers (things you can give), events (gatherings, open events, community events), bulk buys (shared purchases), stories, prayers, and thank yous. See How it works for a visual walkthrough.

Yes. FIMBY has a support person feature — someone you trust can use the app on your behalf, posting, responding, and messaging as you. Learn more about this on Our Approach.

The lending library lets you list items you’re willing to lend — tools, books, kitchen gear, anything useful. Neighbours browse by category and request to borrow. Loans are tracked with return dates, and you manage everything from your profile.

When you first join FIMBY, you can use most of the platform right away — you can post asks and offers, share stories, RSVP to events, and even list items you would like to lend. The one place we pause is borrowing.

Before you borrow something from a neighbour, we ask someone who already knows you — a peer or a community group rep in your neighbourhood — to vouch for you. This is just a small “I know this person.” It is not a credit check, an interview, or a background investigation. It is the kind of introduction neighbours have always made for each other.

While you are “Settling in”, the library shows you a warm banner with a “Request a vouch” button. You provide the name and email of someone you know in your neighbourhood (or a community group), they get a message asking them to vouch, and once they do, the library opens up for you.

If you do not know anyone yet, your neighbourhood moderator can introduce you to someone or vouch for you directly.

If someone you vouched for has their library access revoked for a serious reason, we let you know privately. There is no public scoring — nobody else sees who you have vouched for or what happened. Your profile shows a small private history strip that only you can see.

If two of the people you have vouched for in the past year are revoked for serious reasons, your ability to vouch for new people is quietly paused while a moderator reviews. You can always reach out if you have questions.

The goal is care, not punishment. Vouching matters because it carries quiet weight; the weight is what makes it meaningful.

Bulk buys let you coordinate large purchases with neighbours. The organizer posts what they’re buying and how many shares are available. Neighbours reserve their share, and FIMBY tracks allocations. Payment is arranged directly between participants.

FIMBY has three event types: Gatherings (small hosted events with RSVP and capacity), Open Events (larger events where neighbours can tap “I’m Going”), and Community Events (events someone else is hosting that you want neighbours to know about).

Yes. Local organizations, churches, shelters, community centres, and other groups can have a presence in their neighbourhood through FIMBY’s Community Groups feature. They can post events, share meal times and program schedules, and connect with the people around them. It is one of the ways FIMBY helps informal neighbourly care and formal community supports sit closer together.

Only people in your neighbourhood can see your posts and profile. Contact information is never shared automatically — you choose exactly what to share, with whom, and can revoke access at any time.

Yes. Blocking is bidirectional — neither person can see the other’s posts, send messages, or interact in any way. Blocks are private and can be undone at any time.

You can delete your account at any time from Settings → Delete my account. Your login is revoked right away, and there is a 30-day grace window during which you can restore your account via a link we email you. After 30 days, your posts, messages, and profile are permanently removed. The confirm screen also has an opt-in checkbox to skip the grace and delete immediately if you need to. Full details at /delete-account.

FIMBY uses restorative language and processes. If something goes sideways, the system reaches for check-ins and follow-ups — not penalties or reports. The goal is always to help neighbours sort things out.

No. FIMBY grew out of a church community, but it is for neighbours of all backgrounds. Some people share prayer requests or God stories because that is part of their life. You are never expected to join in, agree, or participate in religious content to belong here. All that is asked is that neighbours treat one another with dignity.

Yes. FIMBY’s founder is a gay man who has been part of Strathcona Vineyard for years, and FIMBY is built for all neighbours. That means all neighbours. You are welcome here exactly as you are. No one is asked to hide who they are in order to belong.

FIMBY was created by Stephen Rathjen, a neighbour who has lived in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside for more than 20 years. It grew out of the kind of neighbouring that was already happening — shared meals, lending, prayer, checking in on one another — long before it was an app. Strathcona Vineyard, the church community Stephen is part of, provides the support and infrastructure that makes FIMBY possible.

No. FIMBY is not a replacement for shelters, detox, health care, crisis lines, or other essential services. It is a way for neighbours and local community groups to share everyday life, practical help, and local information more easily. In neighbourhoods like V6A, those relationships can sit alongside formal care, not replace it.

FIMBY is community-funded. There are no ads, no data sales, and no venture capital. It’s built to serve the people who use it, not to generate profit.

FIMBY grows neighbourhood by neighbourhood. If you’d like FIMBY in your area, let us know — we’ll add you to the waitlist and reach out when we’re ready to expand.