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People United for Sustainable Housing Incorporated

EIN 20-3558447 · Buffalo, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 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

PEOPLE UNITED FOR SUSTAINABLE HOUSING, INC. (PUSH BUFFALO) HELPS TO MOBILIZE RESIDENTS TO CREATE STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS WITH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING; TO EXPAND LOCAL HIRING OPPORTUNITIES; AND TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN BUFFALO.

Income
$5.3 million
Spending
$5.4 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
37
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$87,988, 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: 38 out of 100. Higher than 15% 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 114% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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 (4)
  1. $2.4 million spent. HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTPUSH HAS DEVELOPED AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM WITH DOCUMENTED EFFECTIVENESS TO ACQUIRE AND REHABILITATE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING AND VACANT LAND IN BUFFALO. THE PROGRAM HAS ACCOMPLISHED RENOVATIONS OF MULTIPLE UNITS. PUSH ALSO INTEGRATES "GREEN" DEVELOPMENT INTO EACH OF ITS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, INSTALLATION OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS ON-DEMAND WATER HEATERS, RADIANT FLOOR HEATING, SOLAR PANELS, AND GEOTHERMAL HEATING SYSTEMS. IN 2024 49 UNITS ACROSS 14 SITES WERE PUT INTO SERVICE.
  2. $612,566 spent. COMMUNITY ENERGY ASSISTS HOMEOWNERS WITH ENERGY EFFICIENCY/WEATHERIZATION, CLEAN HEATING AND COOLING, ROOFTOP AND COMMERCIAL SOLAR. TO HELP NEW YORKERS ACCESS AND NAVIGATE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY NYSERDA CREATED CLEAN ENERGY HUBS. PUSH IS THE WESTERN NEW YORK CLEAN ENERGY HUB SERVING FIVE COUNTIES. PUSH ALSO PARTICIPATES IN THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS - BUFFALO EAST HOMEOWNER IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (BEHIP) IS A GRANT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOME REPAIRS TO LOW-INCOME HOMEOWNERS ON BUFFALO EAST SIDE, 16 PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED. WARM AND DRY IS A PROGRAM AIMED AT HELPING LOW-MODERATE-INCOME HOMEOWNERS ADDRESS HOME REPAIR NEEDS THAT ENSURE A WARM AND DRY LIVING ENVIRONMENT, 5 HOUSES WERE COMPLETED. 405 ENGAGEMENTS LEADING TO A REFERRAL.
  3. $593,213 spent. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND YOUTH CENTERPUSH ORGANIZES RESIDENTS TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT AN ACTION PLAN FOR IMPROVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD. PUSH STRIVES TO BUILD A DEMOCRATIC, ACTION-ORIENTED ORGANIZATION CAPABLE OF ADDRESSING THE LACK OF LIVING WAGE JOBS AND POOR HOUSING CONDITIONS THAT MAY EXIST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. PUSH HOLDS LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND PLANNING MEETINGS. LEADERS ALSO PLAN PUBLIC CAMPAIGNS TO PROMOTE CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE REALM OF SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND TO EMBED THE PUSH MODEL AND OBJECTIVES IN LEGISLATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS. THE PUSH BUFFALO COMMUNITY HUB SERVES AS A DROP-IN COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THE PUBLIC, SERVING INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES. THERE ARE A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN FROM COMPUTERS, HOMEWORK HELP, GAMES, MUSIC, EVENTS, AND PROGRAMMING.
  4. $574,974 spent. RENTAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENTTO PROVIDE HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PERSONS AND FAMILIES OF LOW INCOME IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK. PUSH MANAGES A PORTFOLIO OF 163 AFFORDABLE RENTAL APARTMENTS ACROSS 29 SITES IN BUFFALO. ITS PORTFOLIO INCLUDES MULTI-UNIT SITES, ELDER APARTMENTS, AND SINGLE UNIT SITES.

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 August 2006.

    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.