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Homeward Bound of Western North Carolina Inc

EIN 56-1568917 · Asheville, NC

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

HOMEWARD BOUND'S MISSION IS TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH PERMANENT HOUSING AND SUPPORT. OUR WORK IS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING VALUES: WE BELIEVE IN THE ABSOLUTE VALUE AND WORTH OF EVERY HUMAN BEING; WE BELIEVE THAT HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT, INTEGRAL TO SELF-WORTH AND DIGNITY; THAT ALL SERVICES SHOULD BE OFFERED WITH RESPECT AND EMPATHY, IN THE SPIRIT OF HOPE AND RECOVERY; AND HOMELESSNESS IS A SOLVABLE PROBLEM. WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE SINCE 2006, WE HAVE HOUSED MORE THAN 2,700 PEOPLE.

Income
$12.4 million
Spending
$10.4 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-14.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 47%
Employees
136
Volunteers
94
Highest pay
$106,763, ceo

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 57% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

    14 of 14 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 (3)
  1. $1.3 million spent. HOMEWARD BOUND'S AHOPE DAY CENTER OFFERS AN ARRAY OF HUMAN DIGNITY SERVICES SUCH AS SHOWERS, LAUNDRY FACILITIES, COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS, MAIL SERVICES, LOCKERS FOR PERSONAL BELONGINGS, AND A MAILING ADDRESS FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. AHOPE ALSO SERVES AS THE GATEWAY TO THE LOCAL COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM, WHICH FACILITATES EQUITABLE HOUSING PLACEMENTS BASED ON THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL. ADDITIONALLY, AHOPE PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, ONSITE AND THROUGH STREET OUTREACH, TO LINK INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH HOUSING RESOURCES, HEALTHCARE, EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
  2. $8.0 million spent. HOMEWARD BOUND PROVIDES A RANGE OF HOUSING SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING LONG-TERM HOUSING WITH SUPPORT DELIVERED THROUGH SCATTERED-SITE PARTNERSHIPS WITH PRIVATE LANDLORDS AND PUBLIC HOUSING, ALONGSIDE SITE-BASED COMMUNITIES SUCH AS KEY COMMONS AND, MORE RECENTLY, AN 85 RESIDENTIAL UNIT CALLED COMPASS POINT VILLAGE. WE ALSO DELIVER RAPID REHOUSING AND TARGETED SERVICES FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES (SSVF) PROGRAM. OUR APPROACH STARTS WITH HOUSING COMBINED WITH A RANGE OF LONGER-TERM AND SHORTER-TERM SUPPORT, FLEXIBLY TAILORED TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS-CREATING THE STABILITY PEOPLE NEED TO ACCESS SERVICES, STRENGTHEN INDEPENDENCE, AND SUSTAIN HOUSING OVER THE LONG TERM.
  3. THE WELCOME HOME DONATION CENTER IS A PART OF HOMEWARD BOUND'S EFFORTS TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS TRANSITIONING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS WITH THE ESSENTIAL ITEMS NEEDED TO CREATE A STABLE HOME ENVIRONMENT. THE CENTER ACCEPTS DONATIONS OF FURNITURE, HOUSEHOLD GOODS, AND OTHER ITEMS NECESSARY FOR SETTING UP A NEW HOME. THESE DONATED FURNISHINGS ARE PHYSICALLY MOVED INTO THE NEW HOMES OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE SECURED HOUSING. THE WELCOME HOME DONATION CENTER, IN KEEPING WITH HOMEWARD BOUND'S LOWBARRIER SERVICES APPROACH, HELPS MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM HOMELESSNESS TO STABLE HOUSING LESS STRESSFUL AND MORE MANAGEABLE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED. OUR WELCOME HOME DONATION CENTER TRANSFORMED 122 HOUSING UNITS INTO FULLY FURNISHED HOMES BY DELIVERING 143,656 WORTH OF COMMUNITY DONATIONS.

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 April 1988.

    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.