Samaritan House
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FIGHTING POVERTY. LIFTING LIVES. WE MOBILIZE THE RESOURCES OF OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP THOSE AMONG US WHO ARE IN NEED. OUR DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE FOOD, ACCESS TO SHELTER, HEALTHCARE, AND A BROAD RANGE OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. WE PRESERVE DIGNITY, PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND PROVIDE HOPE.
- Income
- $35.6 million
- Spending
- $35.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 8.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 52%
- Employees
- 177
- Volunteers
- 1,500
- Highest pay
- $295,215, 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
Good: 86 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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.
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 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 (6)
- $13.8 million spent. CLIENT AND FOOD SERVICES: IN FY25, WE SERVED 32,140 CLIENTS WITH SAFETY NET SERVICES, INCLUDING EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, FOOD, SHELTER, AND HEALTHCARE. WE FILED 304 TOTAL TAX RETURNS LAST YEAR, RESULTING IN $286,084 IN FEDERAL/STATE REFUNDS. THIRTEEN SAVERS IMPROVED THEIR FINANCIAL LITERACY AND OPENED THEIR FIRST SAVINGS ACCOUNT. OUR FOOD SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDED 4+ MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD, INCLUDING 623,381 BAGS OF GROCERIES, COLLECTIVELY TOTALING MORE THAN 5.2 MILLION MEALS TO 13,379 FAMILIES (25,856 INDIVIDUALS). FOOD COSTS OFFSET AN AVERAGE OF ALMOST $2,000 PER HOUSEHOLD, VALUED AT $26,584,424. SAMARITAN HOUSE SERVED 2,400 FAMILIES, INCLUDING MORE THAN 5,547 CHILDREN, THROUGH OUR 2025 HOLIDAY PROGRAM. KIDS CLOSET DISTRIBUTED 31,584 ITEMS OF NEW AND SLIGHTLY USED CLOTHING TO KIDS AND TEENS, AS WELL AS 187,000 DIAPERS TO BABIES AND TODDLERS IN NEED. THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL PROGRAM DISTRIBUTED 3,200 NEW BACKPACKS FILLED WITH GRADE-APPROPRIATE SUPPLIES, ENSURING THAT CHILDREN STARTED THE SCHOOL YEAR ON TRACK AND FOCUSED ON LEARNING. WE ALSO LAUNCHED AN INNOVATIVE SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME PILOT PROGRAM, LIFT (LIFELINE TO IGNITE FINANCIAL TRANSFORMATION). WITH EDUCATIONAL GUIDANCE, FINANCIAL COACHING, WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS, AND MONTHLY STIPENDS, WE ARE TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF SINGLE-MOTHERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AS THEY CREATE PATHS TO SELF-RELIANCE AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY.
- $6.1 million spent. SHELTER SERVICES: OUR EXPANDED SHELTER SERVICES PROGRAM IS AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF SAN MATEO COUNTY'S HOUSING CRISIS RESOLUTION SYSTEM OFFERING SHORT-TERM, EMERGENCY HOUSING WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO SWIFTLY TRANSITION CLIENTS INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. SERVICES ENCOMPASS NUTRITION; INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT; HOUSING LOCATION SERVICES; COUNSELING; MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE; EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING; LINKAGES TO FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL BENEFITS; EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE/JOB TRAINING; LEGAL SERVICES; LIFE SKILLS TRAINING; SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT SERVICES; AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. IN FY25, A TOTAL OF 72,054 NIGHTS OF SHELTER WERE PROVIDED TO 858 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS ACROSS ALL THREE OF OUR SHELTER LOCATIONS: SAFE HARBOR SHELTER, PACIFIC EMERGENCY SHELTER, AND EL CAMINO HOUSE.
- $5.0 million spent. FREE MEDICAL AND DENTAL CLINICS: THE FREE CLINICS OF SAN MATEO AND REDWOOD CITY ARE THE ONLY FREE CLINICS IN SAN MATEO COUNTY, PROVIDING MEDICAL, DENTAL, VISION, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AT NO COST TO MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS. CLINIC PATIENTS ARE UNINSURED AND UNABLE TO AFFORD OUTOF-POCKET HEALTHCARE COSTS, SUCH AS PREMIUMS, COPAYS, OR DEDUCTIBLES OF COVERAGE. IN FY25, THE CLINICS SERVED MORE THAN 11,425 PATIENT VISITS WITH THE HELP OF 129 VOLUNTEER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. BOTH CLINICS RELY ON A VOLUNTEER-BASED MODEL OF SERVICE, INCLUDING VOLUNTEER MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, SUCH AS PHYSICIANS, NURSES, DENTISTS, NURSE PRACTIONERS, INTERPRETERS, AND OTHER CLINICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, TO OPERATE THE CLINICS. VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 5,204 VOLUNTEER HOURS DURING THE YEAR. LAUNCHED IN 2016, SAMARITAN HOUSE'S FOOD PHARMACY PROGRAM WAS THE FIRST IN CALIFORNIA. AT EACH OF OUR TWO CLINIC LOCATIONS, PATIENTS WITH DIABETES FILL "PRESCRIPTIONS" FOR FREE NUTRITIOUS FOOD. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE DISTRIBUTED 24,698 BAGS OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD. PROVIDING PRIMARY AND PREVENTIVE CARE TO THE MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AND UNINSURED NOT ONLY BENEFITS THOSE RECEIVING THE CARE BUT ALSO ACCRUES BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. VACCINATIONS REDUCE THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN THE COMMUNITY. KEEPING RESIDENTS HEALTHY IMPROVES THE WORKFORCE AND ECONOMY. HAVING A PRIMARY SOURCE OF CARE REDUCES DEPENDENCE ON HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS AT A CONSIDERABLE COST SAVINGS.
- $3.9 million spent. HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION SERVICES: HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION SERVICES TARGET FAMILIES IN CRISIS AND AT IMMINENT RISK OF BECOMING UNHOUSED. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES RENTAL AND DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION, AND OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS IN ORDER FOR FAMILIES TO STABLIZE THEIR HOUSING SITUATION. SAMARITAN HOUSE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE COUNTY'S CONTRACTED EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (EFA) ADMINISTRATIVE ENTITY AND THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE'S SEASON OF SHARING (SOS) FUND, COORDINATING A RENTAL/EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF THE CORE SERVICES AGENCY NETWORK (SEVEN CORE SERVICE AGENCIES), WHICH PROVIDES ONE-TIME EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME, ELIGIBLE FAMILIES. IN FY25, WE DISTRIBUTED OVER $4.95M IN DIRECT EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING RENT, UTILITIES, AND OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS TO 1,761 FAMILIES (4,755 INDIVIDUALS) WHO WERE AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, PROVIDING AN AVERAGE OF $2,811 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PER HOUSEHOLD.
- $1.6 million spent. COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM:SINCE 2017, SAMARITAN HOUSE HAS BEEN UNDER CONTRACT WITH SAN MATEO COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY (HSA) CENTER ON HOMELESSNESS AS THE OPERATOR OF THE COUNTY'S COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM (CES), CLOSELY PARTNERING WITH NUMEROUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, CORE SERVICE AGENCIES, HOMELESS OUTREACH PROVIDERS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROVIDERS, CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, MEDICAL FACILITIES, AND OTHER IDENTIFIED PROVIDERS TO DELIVER SERVICES. THE CES REFERRAL NETWORK NOW INCLUDES AN IMPRESSIVE 18 AGENCIES. IN FY25, CES SERVED 3,451 INDIVIDUALS COUNTYWIDE.CES AIMS FOR FUNCTIONAL ZERO HOMELESSNESS INTEGRATING A COORDINATED FRAMEWORK CENTERED ON HOUSING CRISIS RESOLUTION, INCLUDING PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS THROUGH DIVERSION, AS WELL AS A STANDARDIZED PROCESS FOR ACCESSING HOMELESS SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THE PROGRAM LEVERAGES UNHOUSED CLIENTS' RESOURCES AND RESILIENCY TO SECURE HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS WITH A SHELTER PLACEMENT AS THE LAST RESORT. THIS STRATEGY PREVENTS HOMELESSNESS FOR PEOPLE SEEKING SHELTER BY HELPING THEM IDENTIFY IMMEDIATE ALTERNATE HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS AND, IF NECESSARY, CONNECT THEM WITH SERVICES AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM RETURN TO PERMANENT HOUSING. SAMARITAN HOUSE (1) OVERSEES INITIAL SCREENING OF UNSHELTERED HOUSEHOLDS, (2) PROVIDES SHELTER DIVERSION TO THOSE CURRENTLY UNHOUSED OR AT IMMINENT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, (3) CONDUCTS STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS, AND (4) FACILITATES INTERIM HOUSING PLACEMENTS. COLLABORATING CLOSELY WITH HSA, WE MANAGE MATCHING AND REFERRALS FOR HOUSING INTERVENTIONS, STRIVING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF SAN MATEO COUNTY'S WORKING POOR AND THEIR FAMILIES BY ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES, ALLEVIATING POVERTY, AND CREATING SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS.
- $364,614 spent. WORKER RESOURCE CENTER:MANAGED BY SAMARITAN HOUSE AND FUNDED BY THE CITY OF SAN MATEO, THE WORKER RESOURCE CENTER (WRC) OPENED IN 2003, PROVIDING SKILLED WORKERS ACCESS FAIR-WAGE EMPLOYMENT WHILE GAINING SKILLS, LANGUAGE SUPPORT, AND CONNECTIONS THAT SUPPORT ADVANCEMENT AND INCOME STABILITY. WRAPAROUND SUPPORTSINCLUDING FINANCIAL COACHING, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, FOOD SUPPORT, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND NAVIGATION OF PUBLIC BENEFITSHELP INDIVIDUALS OVERCOME OBSTACLES SUCH AS HOUSING INSTABILITY, FOOD INSECURITY, AND HEALTH-RELATED DISRUPTIONS THAT OFTEN PREVENT WORKERS FROM SUSTAINING EMPLOYMENT. IN FY25, WRC WORKERS EARNED A COLLECTIVE INCOME VALUED AT $720,185.
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 April 1975.
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.
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