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Housing Corporation of Arlington

EIN 04-2944144 · Arlington, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO ACQUIRE, DEVELOP, IMPROVE, SELL, MANAGE (MORTGAGE, REMORTGAGE) AND LEASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE TOWN OF ARLINGTON FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES AND TO PROVIDE OTHER SOCIAL AND CIVIC SERVICES TO BENEFIT LOW AND MODERATE INCOME MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-71.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
4
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$120,916, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 107% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $1.7 million spent. AFFORDABLE HOUSINGHCA OWNS AND MANAGES 151 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING. OUR NEXT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OF 43 PASSIVE HOUSE UNITS WILL BE COMPLETED IN 2026. HCA'S HOUSING PROPERTIES RANGE IN SIZE FROM 2-48 UNITS AND ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT ARLINGTON. UNITS ARE RESTRICTED TO BE AFFORDABLE IN PERPETUITY FOR HOUSEHOLDS EARNING NO MORE THAN 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. HCA ENGAGES A PROFESSIONAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FIRM TO HELP MANAGE OUR PROPERTIES. HCA CONTINUALLY SEEKS NEW SITES IN ORDER TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES VIA ACQUISITION AND REHAB, OR NEW CONSTRUCTION.
  2. $587,582 spent. SOCIAL SERVICESHCA SUPPORTS OUR OWN TENANTS AND OTHER LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH A WIDE RANGE OF HOUSING AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE NEEDS. BASED ON A COMPREHENSIVE INTAKE, ASSISTANCE MAY INCLUDE: HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM GRANTS: HCA HELPS APPROXIMATELY 50 ARLINGTON FAMILIES A YEAR REMAIN STABLY HOUSED BY AWARDING CLOSE TO $100,000 IN DIRECT SMALL GRANTS TO COVER RENT, SECURITY DEPOSIT OR MOVING EXPENSES. THESE ONE-TIME GRANTS MAY BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOMELESSNESS AND STABILITY FOR FAMILIES FACING JOB LOSS, MEDICAL ISSUES, DIVORCE, OR OTHER LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES.HOUSING SUPPORT & SEARCH: HCA HELPS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH HOUSING SEARCH, AND ADDRESS UNSAFE HOUSING CONDITIONS, THREAT OF EVICTION AND MORE. HCA STAFF HELP TENANTS COMMUNICATE WITH LANDLORDS, APPLY FOR WAITING LISTS (INCLUDING HCA'S), APPLY FOR HOUSING VOUCHERS, SECURE A SHELTER BED, OR APPLY FOR HPP AND/OR OTHER RENTAL ASSISTANCE. OTHER SERVICES: HCA STAFF HELP CLIENTS SECURE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND MASSHEALTH HEALTH CARE. WE REFER FAMILIES FOR MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, FOOD, FUEL ASSISTANCE, JOB SEARCH AND MORE. HCA STAFF MAINTAIN STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARTNERS, AND FOLLOWS UP UNTIL CLIENTS' NEEDS ARE MET. THROUGH BANK PARTNERSHIPS, HCA ALSO PROVIDES FREE FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASSES.
  3. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENTTHROUGH HCA'S TENANT COUNCIL OUR TENANTS GAIN A VOICE IN HOW HCA'S PROPERTIES ARE MANAGED AND CAN PLAY A DIRECT ROLE IN BUILDING THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. ANY TENANT CAN GAIN LEADERSHIP SKILLS BY JOINING THE TENANT COUNCIL STEERING COMMITTEE, WHICH FACILITATES THE COUNCIL WITH HCA STAFF SUPPORT.HCA ALSO HELPS TO EDUCATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL INCOMES ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES, AND HELPS THEM BRING THEIR VOICE TO PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS AND TO DECISION MAKING PROCESSES RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FAMILY STABILITY AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL. HCA TENANTS AND OTHER RESIDENTS ALSO PLAY KEY ROLES ON HCA COMMITTEES, INCLUDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1990.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.