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Open Arms Housing Inc

EIN 52-2040518 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Open Arms Housings (OAH) mission is to provide permanent homes and ongoing support to women experiencing homelessness. Special care is taken to provide comprehensive mental health support to OAH clients.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
-7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 77%
Employees
25
Highest pay
$148,157, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (human services, $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 75% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 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 (3)
  1. $1.3 million spent. For clients under the scattered site PSHP, OAH case managers provide intensive mobile case management. All supportive services include supportive counseling, crisis intervention, financial management and assistance in receiving public benefits and referrals to resources and/or programs. OAH also connects residents with off-site services that include mental health and assertive community treatment, alcohol and drug abuse counseling, employment counseling, day programs, volunteer opportunities, self-help groups, medical treatment, and food pantries. The scattered site PSHP program has extended to service families and increased our ability to provide service. As a result, Open Arms Housing has increased those numbers of chronic homeless women and families being served in the District of Columbia. Through our innovative service model of delivering services, we now currently provie housing to over 350 women and families across the District.
  2. $226,821 spent. The Dunbar was the first female only, single site Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) project for women unaccompanied by children. The Dunbar began housing residents in the fall of 2009. Each woman has her own efficiency apartment with a full kitchen and bathroom. The building includes three wheelchair-accessible units and a community room with shared phones, a television, computers, and space for meetings and social gatherings. The availability of an onsite Certified Peer Specialist and Case Managers, with whom residents can consult, arrange benefits, and request access to mobile treatment teams, helps ensure access to supportive services at a level and pace determined by each resident. OAH has maintained a 95% housing stability success rate, with residents remaining in safe, secure, permanent housing and not returning to homelessness.
  3. $80,683 spent. Open Arms Housings second building, Owen Place, opened in the Fall of 2015 in the Trinidad neighborhood. Owen Place includes four one-bedroom apartments. From its conception, Open Arms has stressed the provision of quality living spaces with full bath and kitchen for each resident; shared common space; customization of units to meet the special mobility and other needs of residents; a safe and secure building to call home; and effective property management that keeps each unit a healthy and responsive place to live.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 1998.

    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.