Louison House Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF LOUISON HOUSE IS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR ARE AT RISK OF HOUSING INSTABILITY.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 5.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 78%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 103
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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.
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 September 30, 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 (5)
- $561,635 spent. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING - THE LOUISON HOUSE PROVIDES A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SHELTER THAT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1990. AS A CONGREGATE LIVING SHELTER, LOUISON HOUSE CAN HOUSE BOTH FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS FOR UP TO TWO YEARS BUT AIMS TO GET PEOPLE OUT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE AVERAGE STAY AT OUR SHELTER HAS INCREASED TO 5-6 MONTHS DUE TO HIGHER RENTS AND LONGER WAIT LISTS IN OUR AREA. ENTRANCE TO THE SHELTER IS PRIORITIZED ACCORDING TO FEDERAL HUD GUIDELINES: BY LEVEL OF HOMELESSNESS (LENGTH, ETC.), WEIGHTED BY OTHER FEDERAL PRIORITIES (DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SAFETY, DISABILITIES, ETC.). ALL RESIDENTS WORK ON AN INDIVIDUAL SERVICE PLAN WITH STAFF WITH THE MAJOR GOAL OF OVERCOMING ANY BARRIERS THEY MAY HAVE TO SUCCESSFULLY OBTAIN HOUSING. A RANGE OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ARE OFFERED, INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT, BUDGET/FINANCIAL COUNSELING, EDUCATION/CAREER PLANNING, JOB/HOUSING SEARCH ASSISTANCE AND LIFE-SKILLS TRAINING. THE PURPOSE OF THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM IS TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS OBTAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH THE INCOME NECESSARY TO AT LEAST MEET THEIR BASIC LIVING NEEDS AND TO ASSIST THEM TO REACH THEIR PERSONAL GOALS. MOST OF OUR RESIDENTS SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING UPON EXIT AND EITHER MAINTAIN OR INCREASE THEIR INCOME BY THE TIME THEY LEAVE OUR HOUSING. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING - THE LOUISON HOUSE PROVIDES A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SHELTER THAT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1990. AS A CONGREGATE LIVING SHELTER, LOUISON HOUSE CAN HOUSE BOTH FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS FOR UP TO TWO YEARS BUT AIMS TO GET PEOPLE OUT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE AVERAGE STAY AT OUR SHELTER HAS INCREASED TO 5-6 MONTHS DUE TO HIGHER RENTS AND LONGER WAIT LISTS IN OUR AREA. ENTRANCE TO THE SHELTER IS PRIORITIZED ACCORDING TO FEDERAL HUD GUIDELINES: BY LEVEL OF HOMELESSNESS (LENGTH, ETC.), WEIGHTED BY OTHER FEDERAL PRIORITIES (DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SAFETY, DISABILITIES, ETC.). ALL RESIDENTS WORK ON AN INDIVIDUAL SERVICE PLAN WITH STAFF WITH THE MAJOR GOAL OF OVERCOMING ANY BARRIERS THEY MAY HAVE TO SUCCESSFULLY OBTAIN HOUSING. A RANGE OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ARE OFFERED, INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT, BUDGET/FINANCIAL COUNSELING, EDUCATION/CAREER PLANNING, JOB/HOUSING SEARCH ASSISTANCE AND LIFE-SKILLS TRAINING. THE PURPOSE OF THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM IS TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS OBTAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH THE INCOME NECESSARY TO AT LEAST MEET THEIR BASIC LIVING NEEDS AND TO ASSIST THEM TO REACH THEIR PERSONAL GOALS. MOST OF OUR RESIDENTS SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING UPON EXIT AND EITHER MAINTAIN OR INCREASE THEIR INCOME BY THE TIME THEY LEAVE OUR HOUSING.
- $409,930 spent. PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING - THE PSH PROGRAM HOUSES FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT FIT THE FEDERAL HUD STANDARDS FOR CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS. LOUISON HOUSE HAS 6 INDIVIDUALS AND 3 FAMILIES IN SCATTER SITE LEASED APARTMENTS THAT ARE SUBSIDIZED THROUGH LOUISON HOUSE. PEOPLE IN THIS PROGRAM CAN STAY IN THEIR UNIT FOR AS LONG AS IS NEEDED TO ENSURE THEIR LATER HOUSING SUCCESS. TO SUPPORT OUR CLIENTS PROGRESS, LOUISON HOUSE STAFF PROVIDE BUDGETING AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO HELP MEET THE NEEDS AND INDIVIDUAL GOALS OF EACH PERSON, IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING SERVICE PLANS FOR HOUSING SUCCESS.
- $411,834 spent. PREVENTATIVE OUTREACH SUPPORT - PREVENTATIVE OUTREACH SUPPORT AIMS TO HELP PEOPLE SECURE HOUSING BEFORE REACHING HOMELESSNESS. ADDITIONALLY, OUTREACH TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT LOUISON HOUSES PROGRAMS CAN HELP THEM RETAIN THEIR HOUSING. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE INFORMATION AND REFERRALS TO AREA RESOURCES TO HELP PREVENT SHELTER HOUSING. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE - EMERGENCY BEDS ASSISTANCE, ESPECIALLY DURING WINTER MONTHS, PROVIDES HELP TO SECURE EMERGENCY HOUSING THROUGH REFERRALS AND PLACEMENT. FOOD ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TO HELP PEOPLE IN CRISIS TO SECURE FOOD UNTIL THEY CAN ACCESS LOCAL FOOD RESOURCES. THIS IS OFFERED ON LIMITED BASIS TO LOUISON HOUSE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.
- $91,518 spent. REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE PROGRAM - THE REPRESENTATIVE-PAYEE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS WHO ARE REQUIRED BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA) TO HAVE A PAYEE MANAGE THEIR FINANCES. LOUISON HOUSE, INC. HAS ONE STAFF PERSON ASSIGNED AS A REP-PAYEE TO WORK PART-TIME WITH THESE CLIENTS ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS. THE REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE RECEIVES THE SSI/SSDI BENEFITS FOR ENROLLED CLIENTS AND WORKS WITH THE CLIENTS TO PRIORITIZE AND PAY FOR THE CURRENT AND FORESEEABLE NEEDS OF THE BENEFICIARY. MOVE FORWARD - MOVE FORWARD IS CENTERED ON THE PARTICIPANTS GOALS TO MOVE FORWARD AND INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WORKING WITH LOUISON HOUSE STAFF, PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL PLANNING, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL OR LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN ORDER TO OBTAIN AND RETAIN HOUSING. BNS INITIATIVE - THE BNS INITIATIVE PROVIDES BASIC NEEDS FOR FOOD AND SHELTER TO THOSE HOUSEHOLDS MOVING INTO NEW APARTMENT HOUSING. TO LIVE SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY IN A NEW APARTMENT, PEOPLE NEED FURNITURE, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, SUPPLIES AND FOOD. LOUISON HOUSE WORKS HARD TO PROVIDE FOR BASIC NEEDS BY COORDINATING DONATIONS (FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS), OFTEN ALSO OFFERING PICKUP SERVICES FOR THE DONATIONS. BASIC SUPPLIES SUCH AS KITCHEN TOOLS, CLEANERS, PAPER GOODS, ETC., ARE PURCHASED AND DISTRIBUTED, ALONG WITH FOOD IN A WELCOME BASKET TO THE NEW APARTMENT RESIDENTS. WHEN AVAILABLE, FUNDS ARE UTILIZED FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MOVING THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND POSSESSIONS AND/OR RENT DEPOSITS ON THE NEW HOUSING. THE BNS INITIATIVE SUPPORTS SUCCESSFUL HOUSING BY LOWERING INITIAL COSTS AND ENABLING RESIDENTS TO CONCENTRATE THEIR FUNDS ON RENT AND OTHER ESSENTIAL COSTS.
- REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE PROGRAM - THE REPRESENTATIVE-PAYEE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS WHO ARE REQUIRED BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA) TO HAVE A PAYEE MANAGE THEIR FINANCES. LOUISON HOUSE, INC. HAS ONE STAFF PERSON ASSIGNED AS A REP-PAYEE TO WORK PART-TIME WITH THESE CLIENTS ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS. THE REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE RECEIVES THE SSI/SSDI BENEFITS FOR ENROLLED CLIENTS AND WORKS WITH THE CLIENTS TO PRIORITIZE AND PAY FOR THE CURRENT AND FORESEEABLE NEEDS OF THE BENEFICIARY. MOVE FORWARD - MOVE FORWARD IS CENTERED ON THE PARTICIPANTS GOALS TO MOVE FORWARD AND INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WORKING WITH LOUISON HOUSE STAFF, PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL PLANNING, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL OR LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN ORDER TO OBTAIN AND RETAIN HOUSING. BNS INITIATIVE - THE BNS INITIATIVE PROVIDES BASIC NEEDS FOR FOOD AND SHELTER TO THOSE HOUSEHOLDS MOVING INTO NEW APARTMENT HOUSING. TO LIVE SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY IN A NEW APARTMENT, PEOPLE NEED FURNITURE, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, SUPPLIES AND FOOD. LOUISON HOUSE WORKS HARD TO PROVIDE FOR BASIC NEEDS BY COORDINATING DONATIONS (FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS), OFTEN ALSO OFFERING PICKUP SERVICES FOR THE DONATIONS. BASIC SUPPLIES SUCH AS KITCHEN TOOLS, CLEANERS, PAPER GOODS, ETC., ARE PURCHASED AND DISTRIBUTED, ALONG WITH FOOD IN A WELCOME BASKET TO THE NEW APARTMENT RESIDENTS. WHEN AVAILABLE, FUNDS ARE UTILIZED FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MOVING THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND POSSESSIONS AND/OR RENT DEPOSITS ON THE NEW HOUSING. THE BNS INITIATIVE SUPPORTS SUCCESSFUL HOUSING BY LOWERING INITIAL COSTS AND ENABLING RESIDENTS TO CONCENTRATE THEIR FUNDS ON RENT AND OTHER ESSENTIAL COSTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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