Artists Helping the Homeless
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING THE NEED AND COST OF CARE FOR THE UNHOUSED IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AHH SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT OF LOCAL SAFETY NETS BY FILLING GAPS AND REMOVING BARRIERS TO SERVICES. WHEN A SERVICE CONTINUUM CONTAINS SIGNIFICANT GAPS IN EITHER SCOPE OR PROCESS, PEOPLE FALL IN AND OUT OF SERVICE, MAKING THE PROCESS MORE INEFFICIENT AND COSTLY. CREATED IN 2010 AS A TRANSPORTATION-BASED HOSPITAL DIVERSION PROGRAM, AHH'S BE THE CHANGE PROGRAM GREW ORGANICALLY AS IT COLLABORATED WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO ADDDRESS INDIVIDUAL AND SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES.
- Income
- $2.1 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 35
- Highest pay
- $75,000, director/president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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 December 31, 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 (1)
- $1.9 million spent. AHH OPERATES THROUGHOUT THE GREATER KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA AND IN DOUGLAS COUNTY (KS). THE PROGRAM ASSISTED 1,392 INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL SEGMENTS OF THE LOCAL HOMELESS POPULATION, BOTH UNHOUSED AND SHELTERED, WITH SERVICES TAILORED TO THE PERSON'S SITUATION. GENERALLY, THESE SERVICES CONNECT INDIVIDUALS WITH EXISTING SERVICES, FILL GAPS, REMOVE BARRIERS AND FACILITATE POSITIVE OUTCOMES.SERVICES CAN BE CATEGORIZED BY SCOPE: GENERAL ASSISTANCE (GAP) SERVICES USUALLY INVOLVE 1 OR 2 INTERACTIONS TO MEET AN IMMEDIATE NEED. THAT MIGHT BE A RIDE, FOOD, HOUSING ASSISTANCE OR HELP IN IDENTIFYING, ACCESSING AND FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH SERVICES. MOST GAP REQUESTS ORIGINATE FROM THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN UNHOUSED, RECENTLY BECAME UNHOUSED OR ARE AT-RISK OF BECOMING UNHOUSED.COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES WORKS WITH CASE WORKERS IN HOSPITALS, RECOVERY FACILITIES, JAILS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, HOMELESS SERVICES AND OTHER AGENCIES IN IDENTIFYING PLACEMENTS AND SERVICES, USUALLY FOR THEIR MORE CHALLENGING CLIENTS. AHH IS UNIQUE BY TRANSPORTING PEOPLE TO THE NEW PROVIDER AND ASSURING ADMISSION. TEMPORARY HOUSING OR FOLLOW-UP ASSISTANCE MAY ALSO BE PROVIDED TO FACILITATE TREATMENT OR RECOVERY. COMMUNITY SUPPORT ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 90% OF PEOPLE SERVED BY AHH, INCLUDING THOSE ENTERING ITS RESIDENCES.IN 2025, AHH HOUSED 180 MEN IN ITS 3 RESPITE (STEP 1) AND 3 TRANSITIONAL (STEP 2) FACILITIES. THE RESPITE HOUSES FILL CRITICAL GAPS FOR MEN IN RECOVERY OR RE-ENTRY WHO LACK THE RESOURCES TO IDENTIFY, ACCESS AND FOLLOW THROUGH WITH SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT LED TO OR RESULTED FROM BEING UNHOUSED. THE HOUSES PROVIDE A CLEAN-SOBER ENVIRONMENT WITH FOOD, TRANSPORTATION AND BASIC NEEDS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE SO RESIDENTS CAN FOCUS ON HITTING LIFE'S "RESET BUTTON." A FULL MENU OF WIDELY DIVERSE WRAP-AROUND ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH AHH OR COLLABORATING AGENCIES. PEER SUPPORT STAFF ARE AVAILABLE 24/7. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES LIFE/COPING SKILLS, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, JOB TRAINING, COMMUNITY SERVICE, PHYSICAL FITNESS, REINTEGRATION ACTIVITIES AND RECOVERY MEETINGS, TO NAME A FEW. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE DESIRING MORE INDEPENDENCE WITH THE SAFETY NET OF AHH SERVICES. EVERYONE WITH A SUPERVISION PLAN WAS COMPLIANT. THE 12% RELAPSE RATE COMPARED FAVORABLY TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGES OF 40%-60% DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF SOBRIETY. DURING 2025, 88% OF RESIDENTS MOVING ON WERE EMPLOYED AND WENT TO THEIR OWN PLACE, REUNITED WITH FAMILY, ENTERED TRANSITIONAL LIVING OR TOOK ANOTHER STEP IN THEIR PLAN. THE RECIDIVISM RATE WAS 5%. THE BENEFIT OF THE PROGRAM TO THE INDIVIDUAL IS OBVIOUS. RESIDENTS HAVE GONE ON TO CAREERS IN RETAIL, MANUFACTURING, ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION, BANKING AND SOCIAL SERVICES, TO NAME A FEW. THEY HAVE REJOINED OR STARTED FAMILIES AND THRIVED IN FULFILLING LIVES. OTHER SAFETY NET PROVIDERS HAVE BENEFITTED WITH IMPROVED EFFICIENCY AND OUTCOMES AS A RESULT OF AHH'S LONGITUDINAL APPROACH THAT IMPROVES COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION AND CLIENT ENGAGEMENT. OUR WIDER COMMUNITY ALSO BENEFITS FROM REDUCED RELIANCE ON CRITICAL EMERGENCY SERVICES. IN 2025, ONLY 1 POLICE CALL AND 1 AMBULANCE CALL RESULTED FROM RESIDENT ACTIONS. MOST OF THE 180 RESIDENTS ENCOUNTERED AT LEAST 1 LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERACTION, AMBULANCE CALL OR ED VISIT THE PRIOR YEAR BEFORE ENTERING THE PROGRAM, FREQUENTLY MANY MORE. STUDIES HAVE VALUED THE REDUCED NUMBER OF JAIL DAYS, AMBULANCE CALLS AND ED VISITS AT A MULTIPLE OF THE PROGRAM'S COST.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 July 2008.
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 November 4, 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.