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Barrier Free Living Holding Inc

EIN 13-3059155 · Bronx, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BARRIER FREE LIVING, INC. IS A PIONEERING 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SERVING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, WITH A STRONG EMPHASIS ON SUPPORTING SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, INCLUDING DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE. OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THOSE WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING TO LIVE FREE FROM ABUSE, BIAS, AND DISCRIMINATION. THROUGH A RANGE OF SPECIALIZED, TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES, WE WORK TO ENSURE THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE HEARD, RESPECTED, AND SUPPORTED IN THEIR JOURNEY TOWARD SAFETY AND INDEPENDENCE.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 86%
Employees
122
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$171,231, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 67% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 June 30, 2025, 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 (2)
  1. $2.5 million spent. BARRIER FREE LIVING APARTMENTS (BFLA) SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM -OUR BARRIER FREE LIVING APARTMENTS (BFLA) PROGRAM, LOCATED IN THE BRONX, OFFERS 120 UNITS OF PERMANENT, FULLY ACCESSIBLE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES. RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM ON-SITE SERVICES SUCH AS CASE MANAGEMENT, COUNSELING, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, AND LIFE SKILLS SUPPORT. BFLA PROVIDES A SAFE, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY WHERE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES CAN HEAL FROM TRAUMA, GAIN STABILITY, AND BUILD INDEPENDENT LIVES.
  2. $1.4 million spent. SECRET GARDEN-BARRIER FREE LIVING'S SECRET GARDEN PROGRAM IS THE ONLY NON-RESIDENTIAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM IN NEW YORK CITY SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO SERVE SURVIVORS WITH DISABILITIES. FOR OVER 30 YEARS, SECRET GARDEN HAS PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES INCLUDING CRISIS COUNSELING, SAFETY PLANNING, ADVOCACY, AND SUPPORT GROUPS HELPING SURVIVORS NAVIGATE THE INTERSECTING CHALLENGES OF ABUSE AND DISABILITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 June 2025.

    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 October 2004.

    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.