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Housing in Action

EIN 41-1821520 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO LEAD THE FIGHT FOR HOUSING JUSTICE SO THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE A SAFE, STABLE AND DIGNIFIED PLACE TO LIVE. THE VISION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS "HOUSING JUSTICE FOR ALL".

Income
$5.7 million
Spending
$5.6 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-21 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 42%
Employees
14
Volunteers
170
Highest pay
$160,116, executive director

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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 69% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 109% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
  1. $2.5 million spent. RENTAL PROGRAMS: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES DIGNIFIED, AFFORDABLE DUPLEXES, QUADPLEXES, AND SMALL-SCALE APARTMENT BUILDINGS TO THOSE PREDOMINANTLY AT OR BELOW 50-60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME (AMI). IN 2025, THE MEDIAN INCOME OF RESIDENTS WAS $29,000, WITH 36% OF RESIDENTS HAVING EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS BEFORE MOVING TO A HOUSING IN ACTION APARTMENT. HOUSING IN ACTION'S PROGRAM GOAL IS DIGNIFIED HOUSING: HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE, HIGH-QUALITY, AND INCLUDES A SUPPORTIVE NETWORK OF RESOURCES FROM LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION WELCOMED 20 NEW FAMILIES INTO DIGNIFIED RENTAL HOMES, PROVIDING STABILITY AND SAFE SPACES FOR NEIGHBORS TO THRIVE. SUPPORT FROM THE STABLE HOUSING ORGANIZATION RELIEF PROGRAM (SHORP) ALLOWED 70 RESIDENTS TO RECEIVE ONE-TIME RENT FORGIVENESS AND INDIVIDUALIZED FINANCIAL WELLNESS MEETINGS, HELPING PAVE THE WAY TOWARD A DEBT-FREE FUTURE.
  2. $1.8 million spent. REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS: THIS PROGRAM WORKS TO CLOSE THE RACIAL GAP IN HOMEOWNERSHIP BY DEVELOPING HIGH-QUALITY, ENERGY-EFFICIENT REHABILITATIONS AND NEW CONSTRUCTIONS TO BE SOLD AT AFFORDABLE RATES TO LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME, FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS. IN 2025, HOUSING IN ACTION COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION ON 2 HIGHLY EFFICIENT PASSIVE HOMES AND SOLD 5 PASSIVE HOMES, 6 DUPLEXES, AND 1 VACANT LOT TO LOCAL FAMILIES. PRE-DEVELOPMENT WORK HAS BEGUN ON 4 ADDITIONAL PASSIVE HOMES AND 2 HOME REHABILITATIONS, ALONGSIDE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARD COMPLETION OF A COOPERATIVE TRIPLEX SITE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BLUU. AS OF 2025, THIS PROGRAM HAS DEVELOPED OR REDEVELOPED A TOTAL OF 113 HOMES FOR PURCHASE, WITH 76% OF HOMES SOLD IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS, AND 75% OF BUYERS IDENTIFYING AS A PERSON OF COLOR.
  3. $244,828 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS: THIS PROGRAM CO-CREATES COMMUNITIES WHERE TRUST AMONG NEIGHBORS IS HIGH, CONNECTIONS ARE STRONG, AND HISTORICALLY SILENCED VOICES ARE AMPLIFIED AND HEARD TO TRANSFORM THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THE ORGANIZATION CREATES OPPORTUNITIES TO AMPLIFY THE GIFTS, SKILLS, AND LEADERSHIP OF OUR RESIDENTS, COLLECTIVELY CREATING SOLUTIONS IN COMMUNITY. IN 2025, HOUSING IN ACTION HELD PEOPLE-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT (POD) MEETINGS FOR NEIGHBORS TO GATHER, CONNECT, AND BUILD. THIS CRUCIAL PROGRAM ALSO HOSTED TWO HOUSING JUSTICE FORUMS, ONE IN THE SPRING GETTING NEIGHBORS IN FRONT OF THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE CITY, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS, AND ONE IN THE FALL BRINGING MAYORAL CANDIDATES IN FRONT OF NEIGHBORS, READY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO EXPANDED ITS HOMEOWNERSHIP PATHWAYS PROGRAM BY ADDING HOMESTRETCH COURSE OFFERINGS. HOUSING IN ACTION HOSTED 3 HOMESTRETCH WORKSHOPS THAT REACHED 14 FAMILIES, AND 15 PEOPLE UTILIZED ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL AND HOMEOWNERSHIP COACHING SESSIONS, GAINING TOOLS AND CONFIDENCE FOR LONG-TERM FINANCIAL WELLNESS. THESE MILESTONES HIGHLIGHT HOUSING IN ACTION'S COMMITMENT TO BOTH IMMEDIATE HOUSING STABILITY AND LONG-TERM HOMEOWNERSHIP SUCCESS, EMPOWERING FAMILIES AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES.

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

  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 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 May 1996.

    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.