Shelter Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF SHELTER, INC. IS TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS FOR LOW-INCOME, HOMELESS, AND DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS BY PROVIDING HOUSING, SERVICES, SUPPORT, AND RESOURCES THAT LEAD TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
- Income
- $24.5 million
- Spending
- $25.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- -1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 70%
- Employees
- 259
- Volunteers
- 261
- Highest pay
- $421,678, 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
Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (housing, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 62% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $20.9 million spent. SHELTER, INC.S WORK ENCOMPASSES THREE MAIN ELEMENTS:PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS: PREVENTION IS A COST-EFFECTIVE AND HUMANE STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT-RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, USUALLY AS A RESULT OF AN UNEXPECTED EVENT WHICH TEMPORARILY MAKES THEM UNABLE TO MEET THEIR RENT OBLIGATIONS. DEPENDING ON THEIR LEVEL OF RISK, HOUSEHOLDS ARE OFFERED INDIVIDUALIZED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE EITHER ON A ONE-TIME BASIS REFERRED TO OTHER SHORT TERM PROGRAMS (TYPICALLY 3 TO 12 MONTHS) TO PROVIDE THEM INCREASING SUPPORT AS THEY STABILIZE THEIR HOUSING AND DEVELOP RESOURCES FOR GREATER FINANCIAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY.ENDING THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS: SHELTER, INC. PROVIDES HOMELESS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH INTERIM AND PERMANENT HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND SERVICES TO HELP THEM REGAIN HOUSING ANDINCREASED SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THIS HOUSING FIRST APPROACH IS DESIGNED TO HELP REDUCE THE INCIDENCES AND DURATION OF HOMELESSNESS FOR LOW-INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE UNDER A VARIETY OF PUBLICLY-FUNDED HOUSING PROGRAMS. SERVICES THAT ARE CRITICAL TO SUCCESS INCLUDE ONE-ON-ONE CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING SEARCH ASSISTANCE, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, AND BUDGETING GUIDANCE.PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING: AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEANS HAVING A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE AT A PRICE YOU CAN AFFORD. IT CURRENTLY TAKES 4.5 FULL-TIME MINIMUM WAGE JOBS TO AFFORD A TWO-BEDROOM APARTMENT IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY. SHELTER, INC. OWNS AND MASTER LEASES UNITS THAT OFFER SAFE, QUALITY RENTAL UNITS AT AFFORDABLE RENTS OR WHICH ARE SUBSIDIZED FOR ELIGIBLE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO INCREASE THE STOCK OF UNITS ACCESSIBLE TO VULNERABLE FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1991.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.