Street Sense Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To raise public awareness on the issues of homelessness and poverty and to create economic opportunities for people experiencing homelessness.
- Income
- $659,645
- Spending
- $666,705
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 82%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 27
- Highest pay
- $124,528, 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
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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 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 (1)
- $563,196 spent. o Street Sense provided economic opportunities to 164 homeless men and women including 60 new, first-time vendors in 2024. Vendors earn an average of $776/month, with the highest performing vendors reporting single day earnings up to $400. In 2024, Street Sense continued to offer multiple platforms for self-expression and the production of content aimed at public engagement. In 2024, we produced content in print, illustration, photography and theater. These workshops are led by artists in residence, practicing professionals who donate their time to the organization. These workshops provide homeless men and women a forum to express their views while raising their self-esteem. Street Sense encourages public debate about homelessness and poverty through their newspaper published weekly with a per issue print run of 4000, consisting of 16 pages of local news features, poetry and editorials. Street Sense also has an active presence on social media, promoting their print content as well as material from other independent sources on the issue of homelessness and extreme poverty. Street Sense also operates a case management program to help its program participant navigate towards housing, health and mental health care and other public benefits as well as an emergency assistance fund to help vendors with rent and utility arrearages as well as to purchase food and medicine.
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
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 December 2024.
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 March 2005.
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.