Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Thomas House Temporary Shelter

EIN 33-0204757 · Garden Grove, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE AT-RISK AND UNHOUSED FAMILIES-WITH-CHILDREN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY ARE EMPOWERED TO ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-13.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
16
Volunteers
571
Highest pay
$185,278, 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

Weak: 38 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 65% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 25

    9 of 9 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 (1)
  1. $1.5 million spent. THOMAS HOUSE TEMPORARY SHELTER (THE ORGANIZATION") WAS FOUNDED IN 1986 AS A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT CORPORATION UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE SAFE, TEMPORARY HOUSING, ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, AND LIFE-CHANGING SUPPORT TO FAMILIES-WITH-CHILDREN AT RISK OF OR EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.AT THOMAS HOUSE, WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY FAMILY IN AMERICA DESERVES A SECURE, SUPPORTIVE HOME WHERE THEY CAN GROW, THRIVE, AND BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE. OUR VISION DRIVES US TO SERVE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, HELPING FAMILIES TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES AND BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS.THOMAS HOUSE OPERATES TWO CORNERSTONE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS: SHELTER AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND HOMELESS PREVENTION SERVICES. FAMILIES IN THE SHELTER AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM ARE HOUSED IN APARTMENTS OWNED BY THOMAS HOUSE AND RECEIVE A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING NAVIGATION, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, COUNSELING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND BUDGETING ASSISTANCE. WE PROVIDE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR FAMILIES TO REGAIN STABILITY AND SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING.THROUGH THE HOMELESS PREVENTION SERVICES PROGRAM, GRADUATE THOMAS HOUSE FAMILIES RECEIVE CRITICAL INTERVENTIONS SUCH AS CASE MANAGEMENT, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL COUNSELING AND HOUSING NAVIGATION. THESE SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS BEFORE IT STARTS, KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER AND IN STABLE HOUSING ENVIRONMENTS.THE MAJORITY OF THE ORGANIZATION'S FUNDING COMES FROM THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF DONORS, FOUNDATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT GRANTS. THESE CONTRIBUTIONS ALLOW US TO CONTINUE EXPANDING OUR SERVICES AND ENSURE THAT NO FAMILY HAS TO FACE HOMELESSNESS ALONE.FOR OVER 38 YEARS, THOMAS HOUSE FAMILY SHELTER HAS A REMARKABLE SUCCESS RATE OF 100% IN HELPING GRADUATING FAMILIES SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING. THOMAS HOUSE FAMILY SHELTER CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATES ITS IMPACTFUL PRESENCE. 91% OF SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN INCREASED THEIR ACADEMIC STANDINGS AND 100% OF GRADUATE FAMILIES TRACKED RETAIN HOUSING FOR 12 MONTHS OR LONGER. COLLABORATING WITH OVER 100 LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND SUPPORTED BY A DEDICATED TEAM OF OVER 400 VOLUNTEERS ANNUALLY, WE CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR MISSION AND MAKE A LASTING DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WE SERVE.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1988.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.