Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Housing California

EIN 68-0133565 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION IS BASED IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, AND BRINGS TOGETHER A DIVERSE, CROSS-SECTOR NETWORK TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS, INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF SAFE, STABLE, AFFORDABLE HOMES, AND PROTECT LOW INCOME RENTERS.HOUSING CALIFORNIA WORKS TO: STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITY, ALIGNMENT, AND POWER OF THE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS FIELD; INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR HOUSING SOLUTIONS; AND ADVANCE EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY CHANGE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

Income
$7.4 million
Spending
$5.0 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
8.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
18
Volunteers
346
Highest pay
$241,628, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 76% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 December 31, 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)
  1. $4.1 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR A NARRATIVE OF HOUSING CALIFORNIA'S PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. NARRATIVE OF HOUSING CALIFORNIA'S 2025 PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2025, HOUSING CALIFORNIA ADVANCED ITS MISSION TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF SAFE, STABLE, AFFORDABLE HOMES, PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS, AND PROTECT LOW-INCOME RENTERS BY MOBILIZING A DIVERSE, CROSS-SECTOR NETWORK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, ADVOCATES, AND PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HOUSING INSTABILITY. HOUSING CALIFORNIA'S WORK FOCUSED ON THREE CORE PROGRAM AREAS: STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY AND ALIGNMENT OF THE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS FIELD; INCREASING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR HOUSING SOLUTIONS; AND ADVANCING EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY CHANGE AT THE STATE LEVEL. STRENGTHENING FIELD ALIGNMENT AND CAPACITY HOUSING CALIFORNIA CONVENED AND SUPPORTED CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERS TO ALIGN PRIORITIES, COORDINATE ADVOCACY STRATEGIES, AND STRENGTHEN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CALIFORNIA'S HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS FIELD. THE ORGANIZATION PLAYED A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE STATEWIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE (SHAC), HELPING TO ADVANCE A SHARED POLICY AGENDA AND COORDINATED STRATEGY TO ADDRESS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS. HOUSING CALIFORNIA FACILITATED COLLABORATION AMONG PARTNERS THROUGH POLICY COMMITTEES, WORKGROUPS, AND STATEWIDE COALITIONS, INCLUDING PARTICIPATION IN KEY ALLIANCES FOCUSED ON HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS. THESE EFFORTS IMPROVED COORDINATION ACROSS ORGANIZATIONS AND STRENGTHENED THE FIELD'S ABILITY TO ADVOCATE FOR EFFECTIVE POLICY SOLUTIONS. TO BUILD PARTNER CAPACITY, HOUSING CALIFORNIA PROVIDED TRAINING, PEER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND DIRECT ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN COMMUNITY LEADERS AND POLICYMAKERS. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED QUARTERLY POLICY BRIEFINGS AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS TO SUPPORT PARTNERS IN UNDERSTANDING AND INFLUENCING HOUSING POLICY. HOUSING CALIFORNIA CONVENED MORE THAN 2,600 CROSS-SECTOR LEADERS AT ITS 46TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR KNOWLEDGE-SHARING, PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND ALIGNMENT ON STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS HOUSING CHALLENGES STATEWIDE. HOUSING CALIFORNIA ALSO EXPANDED THE RESIDENTS UNITED NETWORK (RUN), WHICH DEVELOPS AND ELEVATES THE LEADERSHIP OF PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HOUSING INSTABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS. IN 2025, HOUSING CALIFORNIA PROVIDED LEADERSHIP TRAINING, INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT IN POLICY ADVOCACY, RECRUITED NEW MEMBERS, AND EXPANDED THE NETWORK'S REGIONAL REACH, INCLUDING THROUGH A NEW PARTNERSHIP IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. INCREASING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND ENGAGEMENT HOUSING CALIFORNIA ADVANCED PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS THROUGH STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, MEDIA ENGAGEMENT, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS. THE ORGANIZATION REACHED POLICYMAKERS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND THE PUBLIC THROUGH PRESENTATIONS, BRIEFINGS, WEBINARS, AND EARNED MEDIA PLACEMENTS. THROUGH DIGITAL ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS, HOUSING CALIFORNIA MOBILIZED SUPPORTERS TO ACT, INCLUDING SIGNING PETITIONS, CONTACTING ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR HOUSING POLICY SOLUTIONS. HOUSING CALIFORNIA ALSO STRENGTHENED THE COMMUNICATIONS CAPACITY OF PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, INCLUDING LEADERS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HOUSING INSTABILITY, TO MORE EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATE FOR HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND SYSTEMS CHANGE. THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTED POLLING, MESSAGE TESTING, AND FOCUS GROUPS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND PUBLIC ATTITUDES AND IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES. HOUSING CALIFORNIA ALSO PARTNERED WITH FEDERAL POLICYMAKERS TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPACT OF HOUSING INVESTMENTS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUED FEDERAL SUPPORT. ADVANCING POLICY AND SYSTEMS CHANGE HOUSING CALIFORNIA ADVANCED EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY SOLUTIONS THROUGH LEGISLATIVE, BUDGET, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND ELECTORAL ADVOCACY HOUSING CALIFORNIA ALSO CONTINUED TO DEEPEN TIES WITH STATE POLICYMAKERS AND AGENCIES THROUGH REGULAR ENGAGEMENT, LEGISLATIVE BRIEFINGS, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND GARNER THEIR SUPPORT. THE ORGANIZATION UPDATED AND ADVANCED THE ROADMAP HOME 2.0, A LONG-TERM, CROSS-SECTOR POLICY FRAMEWORK TO ADDRESS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, END HOMELESSNESS, AND PROTECT RENTERS. THIS EFFORT ENGAGED MORE THAN 100 STAKEHOLDERS-INCLUDING RESEARCHERS, PRACTITIONERS, ADVOCATES, AND PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE-TO ALIGN ON A SHARED, MULTI-YEAR POLICY AGENDA. IN 2025, HOUSING CALIFORNIA SPONSORED FIVE BILLS AND TOOK POSITIONS ON 35 ADDITIONAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION. THE ORGANIZATION ADVANCED THESE PRIORITIES THROUGH DIRECT ADVOCACY, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, REGULATORY ENGAGEMENT, AND MEDIA OUTREACH. HOUSING CALIFORNIA CONVENED AN ADVOCACY DAY THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER MORE THAN 110 PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING 47 LEADERS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, TO CONDUCT 80 MEETINGS WITH STATE LEGISLATORS. AS A RESULT OF THESE EFFORTS, 14 SPONSORED OR CO-SPONSORED BILLS WERE SIGNED INTO LAW. HOUSING CALIFORNIA CO-LED A CROSS-SECTOR BUDGET COALITION THAT SECURED $1.12 BILLION IN STATE FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS IN THE FY 2025-26 STATE BUDGET, HELPING TO SUSTAIN AND EXPAND CRITICAL RESOURCES FOR LOW-INCOME CALIFORNIANS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO WORKED WITH PARTNERS TO SUPPORT THE RENEWAL OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM AS PART OF THE STATE'S CLIMATE INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK. THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY, HOUSING CALIFORNIA ENGAGED WITH STATE AGENCIES TO SUPPORT EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS BY SUBMITTING FORMAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON PROGRAM GUIDELINES, HELPING SHAPE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE'S NEW CALIFORNIA HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS AGENCY, PARTICIPATING IN KEY STAKEHOLDER WORKING GROUPS, AND ADVISING ON IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES TO IMPROVE HOUSING OUTCOMES FOR LOW-INCOME CALIFORNIANS. IN ADDITION, HOUSING CALIFORNIA PARTNERED WITH CALIFORNIA HOUSING PARTNERSHIP AND MORE THAN 80 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO LAUNCH A $10 BILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND CAMPAIGN FOR THE 20

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 December 1992.

    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.