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Housing Counseling Services Inc

EIN 52-0958568 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HCS PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE COUNSELING, TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT ENDURING, HEALTHY, SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR HOMEBUYERS, HOMEOWNERS, TENANTS AND THE HOMELESS.

Income
$31.5 million
Spending
$31.8 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 100%
Employees
109
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$219,699, executive director

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

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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 (4)
  1. $23.8 million spent. HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION/TENANT ANTI-DISPLACEMENT:PROVIDING SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO TENANTS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AND DISPLACEMENT THROUGH CASE MANAGEMENT, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT TO ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS DO NOT FACE EVICTION, DISPLACEMENT OR ENDURE POOR HOUSING CONDITIONS. BY PROVIDING TARGETED INTERVENTION, INCLUDING RESOURCES FOR BASIC NEEDS, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, TENANT ADVOCACY, FINANCIAL COUNSELING, HCS HELPED 15,193 TENANTS PREVENT DISPLACEMENT AND EVICTION.
  2. $3.0 million spent. VETERANS HOUSING SERVICES:HCS PROVIDES AT-RISK HOMELESS VETERANS WITH WRAP AROUND SERVICES TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN PERMANENT HOUSING. HCS SERVED 237 HOMELESS VETERANS.
  3. $2.2 million spent. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS:HCS PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF HOUSING SERVICES TO RESIDENTS OF THE METROPOLITAN D.C. REGION AND HAS DEVELOPED A "ONE-STOP-SHOP" APPROACH FOR HOUSING CONSUMERS. UTILIZING INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, GROUP TRAINING, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, HCS ENSURES THAT HOUSING CONSUMERS HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ADDRESSING THE FULL HOUSING CONTINUUM. THIS YEAR HCS ASSISTED OVER 21,300 INDIVIDUALS.
  4. $2.0 million spent. HOME PURCHASE AND HOME OWNERSHIP PRESERVATION:HCS INCREASES THE NUMBER OF LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME HOMEOWNERS IN THE D.C. AREA BY PROVIDING COUNSELING AND TRAINING TO EDUCATE CLIENTS ABOUT THEIR HOUSING OPTIONS. THIS EDUCATION HELPS TO REDUCE THE PURCHASE BARRIERS SUCH AS POOR CREDIT, LACK OF SAVINGS, AND UNDERSTANDING MORTGAGE LOAN PRODUCTS. CLIENTS ARE TAUGHT ABOUT THE HOME BUYING PROCESS, BUDGETING, DOWN PAYMENT AND FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER PROGRAMS. TO SUPPORT ENDURING HOMEOWNERSHIP, HCS SUPPORTS HOMEOWNERS AT RISK OF FORECLOSURE BY PROVIDING COUNSELING, LEGAL REFERRALS AND OTHER INTERVENTIONS. HCS PREPARES OVER 2,700 FAMILIES FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP.

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 October 1973.

    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.