Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Front Steps Housing and Services Front Steps Housing and Services

EIN 34-1424555 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE MENTALLY DISABLED AND/OR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY WITH PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND/OR LIFELONG SOLUTIONS TO INCREASE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND INDEPENDENCE.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
14 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 49%
Employees
25
Volunteers
90
Highest pay
$135,779, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 December 31, 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 (2)
  1. $912,485 spent. SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS:FRONT STEPS PROVIDES PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO ASSIST OUR CLIENTS FROM HOMELESSNESS TO SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. FRONT STEPS OFFERS SEVERAL SUPPORT SERVICES (LIFE SKILLS, SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING, COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT/ MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, OUTPATIENT TREATMENT SERVICES, PEER SUPPORT SERVICES. HOUSE KEEPING SKILLS, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND INDEPENDENT LIVING WORKSHOPS, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM: ABUSE RECOVERY CLASSES).
  2. $662,459 spent. PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM:PROVIDES AND MANAGES 68 SAFE, DECENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FOR CHRONICALLY HOMELESS PERSONS, WHO ARE DISABLED AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED BY LOW INCOME. IN 2024, FRONT STEPS PROVIDED 72 CLIENTS WITH PERMANENT HOUSING AND 100% MAINTAINED HOUSING FOR 1 YEAR OR MORE AND THE AGENCY OBTAINED A 98% RENTAL COLLECTION RATE. SERVICES OFFERED TO TENANTS AND COMMUNITY-BASED CLIENTS INCLUDE EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT, MENTAL HEALTH CASE MANAGEMENT, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COUNSELING, INTESIVE OUTPATIET SERVICES, PREVENTION AND LIFE SKILLS. ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS OFFERINGS 360 SERVED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.

    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 August 1984.

    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 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.