Covenant House California
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $30.8 million
- Spending
- $21.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -5.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 56%
- Employees
- 249
- Volunteers
- 250
- Highest pay
- $535,850, president & 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
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (7)
- $10.8 million spent. IMMEDIATE HOUSING:THE IMMEDIATE AND SHORT-TERM HOUSING PROGRAM FOCUSES ON CRISIS CARE AND PROVIDES EMERGENCY SERVICES: TEMPORARY, IMMEDIATE HOUSING; NUTRITIOUS MEALS; CLOTHING; MEDICAL CARE; MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES; AND LEGAL AID TO YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 16-24 IN THE U.S. AND CANADA AND AGES 12-18 IN GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, AND MEXICO WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR HUMAN TRAFFICKING. OUR HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES MEET YOUTHS' IMMEDIATE NEEDS, STABILIZE THEIR SITUATION, AND HELP THEM CONSIDER THEIR LONGER-TERM GOALS FOR EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND CAREER PLANNING. WE ARE EXPERTLY EQUIPPED TO RESPOND TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF YOUNG SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, YOUTH WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ+, YOUTH WHO ARE PREGNANT OR PARENTING, AND YOUNG PEOPLE FACING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FROM THEIR TIME UNHOUSED. OUR SHELTER DOORS ARE OPEN 24/7, AND WE HAVE PROVIDED UNINTERRUPTED SERVICE TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.
- $3.5 million spent. TRANSITIONAL LIVING - RIGHTS OF PASSAGE:CHC'S TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAMS, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS "RIGHTS OF PASSAGE OR ROP, ARE WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE TAKE THEIR BOLDEST STEPS TOWARD INDEPENDENCE. YOUTH LIVE IN ROP FOR UP TO 24 MONTHS, WHERE THEY ENGAGE THEIR POTENTIAL AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. OUR RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE LONGER A YOUNG PERSON RESIDES WITH US AND TAKES ADVANTAGE OF OUR PROGRAMS, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO EXPERIENCE POSITIVE OUTCOMES, INCLUDING STABLE HOUSING, GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, AND HIGHER EDUCATION. IN OUR TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAMS, YOUTH BUILD BASIC LIFE SKILLS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY, PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS, SEEK EMPLOYMENT WITH LONG-TERM ADVANCEMENT AND CAREER PROSPECTS, AND WORK TOWARD MOVING INTO THEIR OWN SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING. COVENANT HOUSE STAFF SUPPORT EACH YOUNG PERSON ON THEIR JOURNEY TOWARD SUSTAINABLE INDEPENDENCE AND A HOPE-FILLED FUTURE.
- $2.6 million spent. PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING:THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDES PERMANENT HOUSING TO YOUTH AND YOUNG FAMILIES THROUGH SCATTERED-SITE APARTMENTS, WHERE THEY RECEIVE ONGOING CASE MANAGEMENT AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. COVENANT HOUSE HELPS YOUTH BY COVERING A PORTION OF THEIR RENT, A PORTION THAT DIMINISHES AS THEIR CAPACITY FOR INDEPENDENCE INCREASES. COVENANT HOUSE SEEKS TO PROMOTE DIFFERENT MODELS OF AFFORDABLE-FOR-YOUTH HOUSING, THAT IS, HOUSING THAT YOUTH CAN AFFORD ON THEIR LIMITED, ENTRY-LEVEL SALARIES. TO THAT END, WE ALSO HAVE BUILT, OWN, AND OPERATE UNITS THAT HAVE RENT REQUIREMENTS BUT NO TIME RESTRICTIONS, SO YOUNG PEOPLE CAN REMAIN SAFELY HOUSED WHILE THEY BUILD THEIR CAPACITY FOR THE HOME TO WHICH THEY ASPIRE. COMMUNITY APARTMENTS AND RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS ARE AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR HOUSING SERVICES.
- $1.1 million spent. DROP-IN SERVICES:DROP-IN SERVICES ARE ANOTHER FORM OF OUTREACH AT COVENANT HOUSE AFFILIATES. YOUTH IN THIS PROGRAM DO NOT RECEIVE RESIDENTIAL SERVICES, BUT THEY DO RECEIVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS MEALS, HOT SHOWERS, HYGIENE PRODUCTS, LAUNDRY SERVICES, AND NEW CLOTHING AND SHOES. THEY CAN REQUEST AND RECEIVE MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT HOUSING ASSISTANCE, AND THEY MAY TAKE PART IN OUR EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS.
- $824,158 spent. OUTREACH:THE OUTREACH PROGRAM ACTIVELY SEEKS OUT YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHO MAY NEED HELP. IN VANS AND ON FOOT, CHC OUTREACH WORKERS GO OUT TO NEIGHBORHOODS, RIVERFRONTS, PARKS, AND OTHER PLACES WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE FACING HOMELESSNESS OFTEN SEEK REFUGE. OUR TEAMS OFFER FOOD, WATER, HYGIENE KITS, CLOTHING, BLANKETS, COUNSELING, AND REFERRALS. THROUGH SUSTAINED CONTACT, THEY BUILD TRUST WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE THEY ENCOUNTER, ENCOURAGING THEM TO COME INTO OUR SHELTERS AND BENEFIT FROM OUR SERVICES.
- $507,699 spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PREVENTION:PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PREVENTION USES A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS TO INFORM AND EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE, THE PUBLIC, AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ABOUT YOUTH HOMELESSNESS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND TO ADVOCATE FOR LAWS AND POLICIES TO PROTECT UNHOUSED YOUTH AND ADVANCE THEIR INTERESTS. COVENANT HOUSE EMPLOYS WEBSITES, SOCIAL MEDIA, PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS, BILLBOARDS, NEWSLETTERS, SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (INCLUDING THROUGH YOUTH HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS MONTH EACH NOVEMBER) AND TRAINING, TALKS, LECTURES, AND PEER-TO-PEER EVENTS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE CAUSES AND IMPACTS OF YOUTH HOMELESSNESS AND OF THE SIGNS THAT A YOUNG PERSON MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
- $171,596 spent. HEALTH AND WELL BEING:HOMELESSNESS IMPACTS YOUNG PEOPLE'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING IN MANY WAYS, AND BECAUSE YOUTH ARE STILL DEVELOPING COGNITIVELY, PHYSICALLY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY, THOSE IMPACTS CAN HAVE DEEP EFFECTS. THIS IS EVEN MORE THE CASE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ+, AS THEY FACE UNIQUE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH RACISM AND PREJUDICE, AND FOR SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. MORE THAN HALF (56%) OF ALL CHC YOUTH TELL US THEY ARE DEALING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE, AND OUR DATA SHOWS THAT LGBTQ+ YOUTH ARE MORE LIKELY TO FACE THESE CHALLENGES THAN THEIR PEERS.CHC WELCOMES ALL YOUNG PEOPLE WITH UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND ABSOLUTE RESPECT. OUR TRAUMA-INFORMED HEALTH AND WELL-BEING SERVICES RANGE FROM MEDICAL CARE AT THE ON-SITE HEALTH CENTERS AT CERTAIN COVENANT HOUSE AFFILIATES, TO YOGA CLASSES, ART AND MUSIC THERAPY, ONE-ON-ONE AND GROUP COUNSELING, RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL SERVICES, AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES AND THE STABILITY AND CARE THEY RECEIVE AT CHC, YOUNG PEOPLE BEGIN TO HEAL FROM THE HARM THEY EXPERIENCED WHILE LIVING UNHOUSED, TAKING CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES, BUILDING ON THEIR STRENGTHS, AND NOURISHING THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1991.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.