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Community Assistance Providers

EIN 58-2478817 · Columbia, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To improve the quality of life by providing safe, decent, affordable housing and economic opportunities for low and moderate income individuals and families throughout our fifteen county service area.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
-44.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
5
Volunteers
5

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 31% 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

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% 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 December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • 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.

  • 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 December 31, 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 (1)
  1. $1.3 million spent. OUR OVERRIDING STRATEGY IS TO ASSIST FAMILIES TO BUILD WEALTH THROUGH EDUCATION AND HOMEOWNERSHIP, I.E. AQUIRING AN APPRECIATING ASSET OUR BI- LINGUAL STAFF EDUCATES POTENTIAL HOMEOWNERS BY PROVIDING HOMEBUYER TRAINING WITH AN EMPHASIS ON FINANICAL BENEFITS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOMEOWNERSHIP. WE HAVE ALSO MADE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN QUALITY RENTAL UNITS THAT SERVER OUR PURPOSE OF PROVIDING A SAFE, DECENT HOUSING WHILE ALLOWING US TO CREATE HOMEOWNERS, AS OUR RENTERS GAIN FINANCIAL STRENGTH TO BE FUTURE HOMEBUYERS. WE PROVIDE SUPPORTING SERVICES AND TRAINING AT OUR RENTAL COMPLEXES. IN ADDITION, WE MANAGE OUR OWNER OCCUPIED REHABILITATION PROGRAM IN THE IMPOVERISHED RURAL AREAS WE SERVE. WE FIND THAT MAINLY ELDERLY, DISABLED AND VERY LOW-INCOME CITIZENS HAVE NO FUNDS TO MAINTAIN THE HOME AND LIVE WITHOUT DECENT (INDOOR) PLUMBING AND HEATING IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE HOME THAT THEY MADE SACRIFICES TO OWN. IN MANY OF THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES WE ARE THE ONLY RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO RESTORE THE HOME TO SAFETY AND DECENCY STANDARDS THAT MANY AMERICANS TAKE FOR GRANTED. OUR PROGRAMS HAVE LED TO THE CREATION OF 15-20 NEW HOMEOWNERS FROM THE LOW INCOME COMMUNITY EVERY YEAR SINCE 2002. IN PARTNERHSIP WITH SCS HOUSING HOME, RICHLAND COUNTY HOME, LEXINGTON COUNTY HOME AND THE CITY OF COLUMBIA HOME FUNDS, OUR OWNER-OCCUPIED REHAB SPECIALIST HAS CREATED OVER 100 HOUSING REHABILITIATION PROJECTS FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED LOW-INCOME CITIZENS EACH YEAR SINCE 2002. OUR APARTMENT COMPLEXES - DILLON PLACE, SEQUOIA PLACE, PATTERSON PLACE, SLOAN PLACE, ZION PLACE, CARRINGTON PLACE, AND RIDGE TERRACE - HELP TO ASSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF SAFE, DECENT AND AFFORDABLE LOW-INCOME HOUSING IN THE COLUMBIA AND LEXINGTON, SC AREA. SUPPORTING SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN AN EFFORT TO LEAD RESIDENTS TO HOMEOWNERSHIP AND OTHER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROVIDER ALSO OWNS AND MANAGES OVER EIGHTY SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THROUGHOUT RICHLAND AND LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC, WHICH PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED AFFORDABLE RENTALS IN VERY NICE COMMUNITIES. CURRENTLY THE ORGANIZATION HAS TWO FULL-TIME COUNSELORS WHO PROVIDE FORECLOSE PREVENTION, COUNSELING AND ACCESS TO TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S FEDERALLY FUNDED MORTGAGE HELP PROGRAM. THROUGH SCHELP, WHICH THE ORGANIZATION HAS FUNDED THROUGH 2017, HAS ENABLED THE ORGANIZATION TO ASSIST 400 FAMILIES TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES. COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROVIDER HAS ALSO CONSTRUCTED OVER THIRTY HOMES FOR SALE TO MODEST INCOME FAMILIES. WE HAVE RECEIVED OUR FIRST GOLD LEED CERTIFIED UNITS WHICH UTILIZES GEOTHERMAL HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING WHICH SAVES SIGNFICANT DOLLARS FOR THE RESIDENT. IN 2010, THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVED THE NATIONAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE COUNCIL'S THRIVE AWARD. IN 2011, THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVED SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION'S EAGLE AWARD AS THE HIGHEST PERFORMING CDC OF THE YEAR. IN 2013, THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVED THE "CREATIVE HOUSING IN DEVELOPMENT" AWARD FORM THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 July 2001.

    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.