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Housing Equality & Advocacy Resource Team

EIN 82-5280771 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak33 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HOUSING EQUITY & ADVOCACY RESOURCE TEAM (HEART L.A.), IS A NONPROFIT PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM THAT PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY TO KEEP PEOPLE AND THEIR COMPANION ANIMALS HOUSED.

Income
$214,485
Spending
$277,969
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
4
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$75,000, board secretary, director

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: 33 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $124,635 spent. EVICTION PREVENTION AND DEFENSE - UNDER THIS PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES HOUSING RELATED COUNSEL AND ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION IN & OUT OF COURT PROCEEDINGS. DURING 2024 THE ORGANIZATION SERVED 1,304 CLIENTS FOR A TOTAL OF 709 PEOPLE AND 595 PETS. THE PROGRAM REPRESENTS TENANTS BEFORE AND THROUGH THE EVICTION PROCESS - THIS INCLUDES RESPONDING TO NOTICES, PREPARING ANSWERS TO EVICTIONS, DEMANDING JURY TRIAL, REPRESENTING IN COURT PROCEEDINGS, AND ALL FURTHER STEPS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE TENANT TO REMAIN HOUSED
  2. $19,985 spent. TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH - UNDER THIS PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED SEVERAL VIRTUAL KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAINING TO ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS, PARTICIPATED IN MONTHLY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS PROVIDING HOUSING LEGAL RESOURCES. DURING 2024 THE ORGANIZATION ASSISTED IN 10 IN PERSON COMMUNITY EVENTS INCLUDING 5 PET WELLNESS DAYS AND 5 PET FOOD PANTRY EVENTS, PROVIDING RESOURCES TO PEOPLE & CONNECTING WITH ANIMAL WELL-BEING AND HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS, AS WELL ENGAGED 176 PEOPLE AND EDUCATED 546 MORE.
  3. $11,164 spent. POLICY ADVOCACY - UNDER THIS PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO ENSURE AGENCY DECISIONS ADDRESS THREATS WHICH DISPLACE PEOPLE AND THEIR COMPANION ANIMALS. THEY PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING LEGAL ANALYSIS, ADVOCACY AND REPRESENTATION, TO RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS WORKING TO PROTECT LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS FROM THREATS OF DISPLACEMENT CAUSED BY ISSUES WITH THEIR HOUSING.

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 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 2024.

    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 July 2018.

    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.