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Shelter Housing Corporation

EIN 42-1252893 · Ames, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE WALK WITH THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ON HARD TIMES TO HELP THEM FIND HOPE AND A HOME.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 51%
Employees
34
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$96,246, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 64% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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, 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 (5)
  1. $926,794 spent. WE SERVED 780 INDIVIDUALS WITH 10,285 NIGHTS OF SHELTER. FUNDING FOR SHELTER SERVICES CONTINUES TO CONTRACT IN FAVOR OF FUNDING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, WHICH MEANT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SHELTER FEWER CLIENTS FOR FEWER DAYS. WE DID, HOWEVER, REDUCE OUR AVERAGE DAYS FROM HOMELESS TO HOUSED TO 22 DAYS, WHICH IS 31% FASTER THAN OUR 30-DAY GOAL. 94% OF SHELTER CLIENTS DID NOT HAVE TO REPEAT A STAY WITHIN A 12-MONTH PERIOD, AND 96% OF CLIENTS EXITED OUR PROGRAMS HOUSED.
  2. $346,968 spent. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A STORY COUNTY AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT GRANT, WE PURCHASED AND RENOVATED AN 8-UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING. SHORTLY AFTER THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, IT OPENED TO HOUSE EIGHT HOUSEHOLDS, INCLUDING 13 INDIVIDUALS, IN SAFE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. NEXT YEAR YOU WILL BE ABLE TO READ ABOUT A NEW APARTMENT BUILDING THAT WE HAVE BUILT OVER THE COURSE OF THIS FISCAL YEAR PRIMARILY WITH THE HELP OF THE NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND AND THE FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK. THIS BUILDING WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 18 UNITS OF VERY LOW INCOME HOUSING TO STORY COUNTY IOWA.
  3. $409,820 spent. SINCE JULY OF 2023, WE HAVE HOUSED 816 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OUR RAPID REHOUSING AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS. THIS HAS ALLOWED US TO REDUCE TOTAL NIGHTS OF SHELTER PROVIDED, BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE HOUSEHOLDS TO HOUSING 30% FASTER THAN OUR GOAL OF 30 DAYS. DURING THEIR TIME IN OUR PROGRAMS, 41% OF CLIENTS SHOWED POSITIVE INCOME PROGRESS.
  4. $16,861 spent. WITH AN INCREASE IN FUNDING, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE OUR OUTREACH SERVICES. WE HAD 519 ENCOUNTERS WITH INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THESE ENCOUNGERS HAPPENED EITHER DURING REGULAR HOURS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES OR OUT IN PARKS, ALONG CREEKS OR RIVERS, IN WOODED AREAS, OR OTHER PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAMP. WE PROVIDED INVITATIONS TO COME INTO SHELTER, ALONG WITH REFERRALS TO OTHER SERVICES IN OUR AREA. WE ALSO PROVIDED FOOD, CLOTHING, AND EQUIPMENT TO HELP PEOPLE STAY SAFE DURING EXTREMELY HOT OR COLD WEATHER. WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS ALWAYS A PERSON'S CHOICE TO ACCEPT OR REJECT OUR ASSISTANCE, BUT PERSISTENCE DOES PAY OFF. WE HAD A CLIENT THAT HAD BEEN BANNED FROM OUR SHELTER FOR THREATENING BEHAVIOR COME APOLOGIZE, AND RE-ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH US, WHICH LED NOT ONLY TO THE PERSON BEING HOUSED, BUT THEN SERVING AS AN OUTREACH LIAISON TO OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
  5. WITH AN INCREASE IN FUNDING, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE OUR OUTREACH SERVICES. WE HAD 519 ENCOUNTERS WITH INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THESE ENCOUNGERS HAPPENED EITHER DURING REGULAR HOURS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES OR OUT IN PARKS, ALONG CREEKS OR RIVERS, IN WOODED AREAS, OR OTHER PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAMP. WE PROVIDED INVITATIONS TO COME INTO SHELTER, ALONG WITH REFERRALS TO OTHER SERVICES IN OUR AREA. WE ALSO PROVIDED FOOD, CLOTHING, AND EQUIPMENT TO HELP PEOPLE STAY SAFE DURING EXTREMELY HOT OR COLD WEATHER. WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS ALWAYS A PERSON'S CHOICE TO ACCEPT OR REJECT OUR ASSISTANCE, BUT PERSISTENCE DOES PAY OFF. WE HAD A CLIENT THAT HAD BEEN BANNED FROM OUR SHELTER FOR THREATENING BEHAVIOR COME APOLOGIZE, AND RE-ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH US, WHICH LED NOT ONLY TO THE PERSON BEING HOUSED, BUT THEN SERVING AS AN OUTREACH LIAISON TO OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 December 1987.

    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.