Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Bridges to Housing Stability Inc

EIN 52-1723716 · Columbia, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE A PATH TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS THROUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND ADVOCACY IN HOWARD COUNTY, MARYLAND.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$3.6 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-17.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 74%
Employees
29
Volunteers
94
Highest pay
$121,230, 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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 49% 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

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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. $1.3 million spent. HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, RAPID REHOUSING, COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM (CES) CASE MANAGEMENT, AND EVICTION PREVENTION. THIS IS A HOUSING-FOCUSED AND TRAUMA-INFORMED PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT IMMINENT RISK OF LOSING HOUSING. IN ADDITION TO REHOUSING AND PREVENTION SERVICES, CLIENTS ARE PROVIDED TENANT SUCCESS WORKSHOPS, FINANCIAL WORKSHOPS, BUDGETING ASSISTANCE, AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES INCLUDING FOOD, CLOTHING, FURNITURE, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, CHILDCARE VOUCHERS ETC. FOLLOW-UP SUPPORT IS GIVEN TO ALL REHOUSED HOUSEHOLDS TO ENSURE LONG-TERM STABILITY. THE PROGRAM'S ACTIVITIES REHOUSED 27 HOUSEHOLDS, 7 EVICTIONS PREVENTED, AND SERVED 219 INDIVIDUALS, 99 WERE CHILDREN.
  2. $1.1 million spent. BRIDGES ALLIANCE PROGRAM: AFFORDABLE BELOW MARKET RENTAL HOUSING WITH A CIRCLE OF SUPPORT FOR LOW-INCOME WORKING HOUSEHOLDS; REDUCES HOUSEHOLD RENTAL BURDEN, PROVIDES FINANCIAL AND GOAL-ORIENTED EDUCATION, AND HOUSING STABILITY GOAL PLANS. PROVIDED 55 SCATTERED SITES BELOW MARKET RENTAL HOMES FOR WORKING HOUSEHOLDS, WITH 190 INDIVIDUALS SERVED, INCLUDING 80 OF THEM CHILDREN.
  3. $454,261 spent. HOUSING CONNECTIONS PROGRAM: ENABLES PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS THAT LOWER HOUSING BARRIERS FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND ENSURES SUCCESSFUL RENTALS. CASE MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING PLANS GIVE TENANTS EXTRA SUPPORT DURING THEIR LEASE TERM AND CREATES POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPERIENCES WITH LANDLORDS. 36 HOUSEHOLDS WERE REHOUSED, 21 EVICTIONS PREVENTED, AND 158 INDIVIDUALS SERVED, 87 WERE CHILDREN.
  4. HELP END HOMELESSNESS HOWARD COUNTY PROGRAM: AN AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING PROGRAM FOR VERY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AN IMMINENT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS. HOUSING COSTS ARE SET TO BE 30% OF THE HOUSEHOLD'S INCOME. THE HOUSEHOLDS MEET THE ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS OF THE HOWARD COUNTY COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED 5 SCATTERED SITE HOMES FOR 20 INDIVIDUALS, 15 WERE CHILDREN.FAMILY HOME START PROGRAM: PROVIDES HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND HAVE CHILDREN IN THE HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THIS PROGRAM REHOUSED 49 HOUSEHOLDS, AND ASSISTED 242 INDIVIDUALS, 119 WERE CHILDREN.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1991.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.