Youth and Family Alliance
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
YOUTH AND FAMILY ALLIANCE (DBA LIFEWORKS) IS A FEARLESS ADVOCATE FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS PURSUING A LIFE THEY LOVE AND A STABLE FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE STRIVE TO BREAK CYCLES OF INSTABILITY BY PROVIDING SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. FINDING SOLUTIONS TO YOUTH HOMELESSNESS MEANS THAT WE HAVE BUILT A COMMUNITY SYSTEM THAT ENSURES THAT YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IS RARE, BRIEF AND NON-RECURRING.
- Income
- $25.0 million
- Spending
- $22.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 77%
- Employees
- 279
- Volunteers
- 559
- Highest pay
- $198,132, former 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: 60 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2527 of 27 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 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 (4)
- $9.5 million spent. HOUSING AND HOMELESS PROGRAMS:HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION SERVICES PROVIDE FLEXIBLE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND LIGHT-TOUCH CASE MANAGEMENT FOR YOUTH WHO ARE AT RISK OF EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THESE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE YOUTH SERVED BY OTHER PROVIDERS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 88.STREET OUTREACH PROVIDES OUTREACH AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. STREET OUTREACH OPERATES A YOUTH RESOURCE DROP-IN CENTER WHERE YOUTH CAN ACCESS BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE, MEALS, CLOTHING, HYGIENE SUPPLIES, SHOWERS, EDUCATIONAL/SUPPORT GROUPS, BUS PASSES, AND REFERRALS TO OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS COUNSELING, PEER SUPPORT, WORKFORCE, AND PSYCHIATRIC CARE. THE STREET OUTREACH TEAM ALSO CONDUCTS REGULAR OUTREACH TO LOCATE AND CONNECT WITH YOUTH EXPERIENCING LITERAL HOMELESSNESS. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 571. AFTER CARE TRANSITION SERVICES (ACTS) WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS TRANSITIONING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM ACROSS A 30-COUNTY AREA. ACTS PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, RESOURCE REFERRALS, AND BENEFITS ASSISTANCE/NAVIGATION. A SUBSET OF THESE CLIENTS RECEIVED HOUSING VOUCHERS AS A HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION STRATEGY. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 117. THE DIVERSION PROGRAM PROVIDES SHORT-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT IMMINENT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTIN/TRAVIS COUNTY WITH THE GOAL OF QUICKLY RESOLVING EPISODES OF HOMELESSNESS/HOUSING INSTABILITY. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 41. THE EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVES YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE (UP TO AGE 21; MOST YOUTH ARE AGES 14-17), RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH (UP TO AGE 18), AND YOUTH IN NEED OF SHORT-TERM RESPITE SERVICES AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM (AGES 12-15). YOUTH HAVE ACCESS TO A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP, FOOD, CLOTHING, AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO COORDINATE FAMILY REUNIFICATION, MEDICAL CARE, TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, AND COUNSELING. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 131.LIFEWORKS' TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM PROVIDES HOUSING, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS CLASSES FOR UP TO 18 MONTHS FOR YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS (UP TO AGE 21). TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 17. PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OFFERS LONG-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUBSIDIZED HOUSING TO YOUTH EXPERIENCING LITERAL HOMELESSNESS WITH A DIAGNOSED DISABILITY. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 90.RAPID REHOUSING PLACES YOUTH EXPERIENCING LITERAL HOMELESSNESS (AGES 18-24) INTO SCATTERED-SITE APARTMENTS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES 2 YEARS OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AS WELL AS CASE MANAGEMENT AND CONNECTIONS TO OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO SUPPORT YOUTH'S LONG-TERM HOUSING AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 292.
- $3.1 million spent. COUNSELING PROGRAMS:YOUTH AND ADULT COUNSELING PROVIDES SHORT-TERM COUNSELING TO INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COUPLES. THE PROGRAM UTILIZES A RANGE OF EVIDENCE-BASED SERVICE MODALITIES, WITH A FOCUS ON HELPING CLIENTS BUILD COPING SKILLS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY HANDLE THE STRESS OF DAY-TO-DAY LIFE. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 560.RESOLUTION COUNSELING IS DEDICATED TO CREATING A SAFE COMMUNITY BY ENDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ADVOCATING FOR RELATIONSHIPS BASED ON EQUALITY AND RESPECT. IT OFFERS PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL GROUPS FOR ADULTS (MALE/FEMALE) WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSIVE TOWARD THEIR PARTNERS. GROUP GOALS INCLUDE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR VIOLENT AND ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR, UNDERSTANDING POWER AND CONTROL, LEARNING ADAPTIVE COMMUNICATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS, AND MANAGING EMOTIONS. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 431.COMMUNITY-BASED COUNSELING SERVES YOUTH AGES 16 TO 26 WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMATIC LIFE EVENTS, FREQUENTLY EXACERBATED BY HOMELESSNESS EPISODES AND/OR INVOLVEMENT IN THE FOSTER CARE OR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT CONVENIENT LOCATIONS TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO SERVICE, INCLUDING CLIENTS' HOMES, COFFEE SHOPS, LIBRARIES, PARKS, OR WHATEVER LOCATION THE CLIENT PREFERS. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 154.PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS THROUGH A SUBCONTRACT WITH INTEGRAL CARE. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 128.PEER SUPPORT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO YOUTH AGES 13 TO 26 WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES. PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE NAVIGATING EITHER MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE CHALLENGES; THEY ARE CERTIFIED TO DRAW UPON THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES TO HELP OTHERS NAVIGATES THEIR HEALING JOURNEYS. PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS PROVIDE OUTREACH AND ONGOING SUPPORT AS WELL AS LINKAGE TO MORE TRADITIONAL COUNSELING SERVICES (AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES). SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT CONVENIENT LOCATIONS TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO SERVICE, INCLUDING CLIENTS' HOMES, COFFEE SHOPS, LIBRARIES, PARKS, OR WHATEVER LOCATION THE CLIENT PREFERS. MINORS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO A PEER-RUN DROP-IN CENTER. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 161.
- $2.9 million spent. EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS:THIS PROGRAM SERVES YOUTH AGES 16 TO 26 WHO HAVE NOT COMPLETED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION, WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING YOUTH PREPARE FOR AND PASS THE GED/HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY EXAM. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 129.THE GOAL OF THE WORKFORCE PROGRAM IS TO HELP YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS OBTAIN MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORTED EDUCATION TO YOUTH AGES 16 TO 26, PARTNERING WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS, SCHOOLS, AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ENSURE YOUTH ARE ABLE TO PURSUE THEIR SELF-DEFINED EMPLOYMENT GOALS. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 325.LIFEWORKS' YOUNG PARENTS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON INCREASING PARENTING SKILLS, HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE OF SEXUAL/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH. THE PROGRAM PREDOMINANTLY SERVES PREGNANT OR PARENTING YOUTH (UP TO AGE 21), ALTHOUGH OTHER YOUTH ARE ALSO ABLE TO ACCESS THE PROGRAM'S SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION SERVICES. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A SUBSET OF ITS CLIENTS WITH A SAFE AND STABLE LIVING ENVIRONMENT THROUGH FULLY SUBSIDIZED APARTMENT-BASED HOUSING. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 118. LIFE SKILLS TRAINING (PREPARATION FOR ADULT LIVING) IS A HANDS-ON COURSE DESIGNED TO PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE, WHO ARE IN THE CONSERVATORSHIP OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AS ADULTS. TRAINING, ROLE-PLAYING, AND FIELD TRIPS FOCUS ON BUDGETING, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH ISSUES, AND OTHER RELEVANT TOPICS. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 70.
- $403,317 spent. CENTRAL INTAKE & EVALUATION:THE CENTRALIZED INTAKE TEAM (CIT) AT LIFEWORKS PROVIDES INTAKE SERVICES FOR MOST LIFEWORKS SERVICES. CENTRALIZED INTAKE PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT FOR NEW LIFEWORKS CLIENTS AS WELL AS CLIENTS CURRENTLY SERVED BY LIFEWORKS AND REQUESTING ASSISTANCE FROM ANOTHER LIFEWORKS PROGRAM.
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
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 November 6, 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 September 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 December 1980.
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 November 4, 2026.
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