Columbus House
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
COLUMBUS HOUSE SERVES PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT IMMINENT RISK BY PROVIDING LIFE-SAVING OUTREACH, SHELTER, AND HOUSING AND BY FOSTERING THEIR PERSONAL GROWTH AND INDEPENDENCE. WE ADVOCATE FOR AND CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO END HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $16.9 million
- Spending
- $17.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- -2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 81%
- Employees
- 238
- Volunteers
- 1,500
- Highest pay
- $207,004, interim ceo until 06/2025
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: 48 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 47% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 44% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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 (4)
- $5.3 million spent. HOUSING SERVICES - IN 2024, AND 2025 RESPECTIVELY, COLUMBUS HOUSE PROVIDES HOUSING SERVICES TO OVER 920 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, RAPID REHOUSING, SHARED HOUSING OR INDEPENDENT LIVING. PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS PROVIDED FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE, MOST OFTEN CHRONICALLY HOMELESS ADULTS AND FAMILIES, AND INCLUDES HOUSING SUBSIDIES AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR AS LONG AS THE CLIENT NEEDS IT. RAPID REHOUSING INCLUDES SHORT TERM SUBSIDIES WITH A LIGHT TOUCH OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. SHARED HOUSING ENABLES THOSE WITHOUT SUBSIDIES TO POOL THEIR RESOURCES TO SHARE AN APARTMENT, EACH HOLDING A LEASE WITH THE LANDLORD. CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT IN ALL HOUSING PROGRAMS IS FOCUSED ON HELPING PEOPLE REMAIN HOUSED BY ATTENDING TO THE TERMS OF THEIR LEASE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HELPING CLIENTS TO INTEGRATE INTO THE COMMUNITY WITH REFERRALS TO MAINSTREAM SERVICES, REUNIFICATION WITH FAMILY, EMPLOYMENT AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHER COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.COLUMBUS HOUSE IS ALSO A HOUSING DEVELOPER. COMPLETED IN 2015, VAL MACRI WAS THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT THE ORGANIZATION OWNS AND MANAGES. THIS SMALL COMPLEX HAS 17 UNITS, HOUSING BOTH VERY LOW-INCOME SINGLE ADULTS AND CHRONICALLY HOMELESS PEOPLE. IN 2020 RENOVATIONS ON SHEPHERD HOMES, A 32-UNIT BUILDING IN MIDDLETOWN, WERE COMPLETED. THIS DEVELOPMENT IS INTENDED FOR BOTH LOW AND VERY LOW INCOME AND CHRONICALLY HOMELESS ADULTS WITH A PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS. FINALLY, IN 2020, COLUMBUS HOUSE COMPLETED THE ACQUISITION OF FIVE PROPERTIES IN MIDDLETOWN FORMERLY OWNED BY THE NEHEMIAH CORPORATION. DUE TO THIS ACQUISITION, THESE BUILDINGS COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS CHI PETERSON REPRESENT 27 UNITS, WHICH WILL REMAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS COMMUNITY.
- $4.0 million spent. SHELTER AND SERVICES COLUMBUSHOUSE PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN NEW HAVEN, WALLINGFORD AND MIDDLETOWN. IN NEW HAVEN, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT IS PROVIDED TO 17 MEN IN RECOVERY AT RECOVERY HOUSE, WHILE AT THE MAIN SHELTER, 81 BEDS PROVIDE EMERGENCY SHELTER TO SINGLE ADULTS. DURING WINTER MONTHS, A SEASONAL SHELTER IS PROVIDED TO 40 INDIVIDUALS IN THE FAMILY TRIAGE PROGRAM. COLUMBUS HOUSE ALSO PROVIDES SEASONAL WARMING CENTERS IN HAMDEN AND MIDDLETOWN, PROVIDING EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR UP TO 35 PEOPLE DURING THE COLDEST WINTER MONTHS.ALSO IN NEW HAVEN, COLUMBUS HOUSE OPERATES A MEDICAL RESPITE PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YALE NEW HAVEN HOSPITAL("YNHH"). PATIENTS ARE REFERRED TO THIS 12-BED PROGRAM FOR RECUPERATIVE MEDICAL CARE FOLLOWING IN- PATIENT HOSPITALIZATION. CLIENTS STAY FOR UP TO 30 DAYS. A YNHH NURSE IS ON-SITE FOR 20 HOURS PER WEEK, WITH ADDITIONAL NURSING SERVICES PROVIDED EVENINGS AND ON WEEKENDS. A COLUMBUS HOUSE CASE MANAGER WORKS WITH THESE CLIENTS TO SECURE HOUSING ONCE DISCHARGED FROM THE PROGRAM.
- $3.8 million spent. COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES - THROUGHOUT ALL PROGRAMS, COLUMBUS HOUSE PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT TO HELP PEOPLE OBTAIN OR MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING. THESE INCLUDE HOUSING READINESS AND SEARCH SERVICES, REFERRAL TO MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND TO BENEFIT ENTITLEMENTS, TRAINING IN DAILY LIVING SKILLS, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND OTHER SERVICES AS NEEDED. A REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE PROGRAM ASSISTS CLIENTS IN PAYING THEIR RENT AND BILLS SO THEY CAN MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING. STAFF ARE TRAINED IN BEST PRACTICES OF HOUSING FIRST, RISK REDUCTION TECHNIQUES, MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING, PERSON CENTERED PLANNING AND TRAUMA INFORMED CARE. A SAMHSA FUNDED PROGRAM, FUNDED FOR 5 YEARS, INCLUDES FOUR STAFF WITH A FOCUS ON STREET OUTREACH, REFERRALS TO TREATMENT AND HOUSING FOR YOUNG ADULTS, ADULTS AND PEOPLE IN FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.VETERAN SPECIFIC SERVICES INCLUDE HARKNESS HOUSE, WHICH PROVIDES TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR VETERANS ALONG WITH CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. IN ADDITION, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING AND BENEFITS SPECIALISTS FOR VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS. THROUGH THESE AND OTHER PROGRAMS, COLUMBUS HOUSE SERVES MORE THAN 400 VETERANS ANNUALLY. THIS YEAR COMMUNITY SUPPORT INCLUDES A HUD FUNDED DEMONSTRATION PROJECT INTENDED TO SEEK OUT HOMELESS YOUTH AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SUPPORT SERVICES THEY NEED TO GET AND MAINTAIN HOUSING.
- $807,513 spent. OUTREACH PROGRAMS - IN MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS CT, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS WHO ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS, IN ENCAMPMENTS, IN ABANDONED BUILDINGS. COLUMBUS HOUSE STAFF PROVIDE STREET OUTREACH IN NEW HAVEN AND MIDDLETOWN TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO DO NOT OR CANNOT COME INTO THE SHELTERS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. THE GOAL IS TO HELP MOVE PEOPLE INTO HOUSING BY PROVIDING REGULAR ENGAGEMENT AND, ULTIMATELY, CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES A TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM THAT OFFERS FREE RIDES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND IN NEED OF GETTING TO AND FROM MEDICAL OR TREATMENT RELATED APPOINTMENTS, ANYWHERE IN THE STATE.
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 May 1985.
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.