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Heading Home Inc

EIN 23-7364546 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HEADING HOME'S MISSION IS TO END HOMELESSNESS IN GREATER BOSTON BY PROVIDING A SUPPORTED PATHWAY TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY THAT BEGINS WITH A HOME, TOGETHER WITH CRITICAL SERVICES SUCH AS LIFE SKILLS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND JOB TRAINING. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)HEADING HOME PROVIDES EMERGENCY TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT HOUSING, AND SUPPORT SERVICES, TO LOW-INCOME HOMELESS AND FORMERLY HOMELESS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITIES OF BOSTON, CAMBRIDGE, CHELSEA, EVERETT, LAWRENCE, MALDEN, MEDFORD, QUINCY, REVERE, AND SOMERVILLE. AS OUR NAME REFLECTS, WE BELIEVE THAT A STABLE HOME PROVIDES THE OPTIMAL FOUNDATION TO GET BACK ON TRACK; OUR PROGRAMS FOCUS HEAVILY ON ASSESSMENT, ENGAGEMENT, INDIVIDUAL GOAL-SETTING AND SECURING PERMANENT HOUSING FOR OUR CLIENTS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

Income
$59.6 million
Spending
$53.7 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 87%
Employees
267
Volunteers
1,000
Highest pay
$380,802, chief executive officer

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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 54% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% 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 44% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 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 (3)
  1. $34.7 million spent. SHELTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICES - SHELTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICES CONSISTS OF A PLACE TO STAY, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES INCLUDING ASSISTANCE IN FINDING PERMANENT HOUSING, AND IN SOME CASES MEALS AND BASIC SUPPLIES. SERVICES ARE TEMPORARY AND ARE INTENDED TO BE RELATIVELY SHORT IN DURATION. THIS INCLUDES ADDING 142 UNITS FOR TAKING OVER THE CASA NEUVA VIDA SHELTER CONTRACTS.
  2. $8.7 million spent. PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING - PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING CONSISTS OF SUBSIDIZED HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR CERTAIN FORMERLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. IT IS NOT TIME-LIMITED, THOUGH MANY PARTICIPANTS MOVE ON TO OTHER HOUSING AFTER SEVERAL YEARS.
  3. $917,122 spent. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING - TRANSITIONAL HOUSING CONSISTS OF HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR 18-24 MONTHS TO HELP PARTICIPANTS MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM HOMELESSNESS TO PERMANENT HOUSING.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1974.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.