Life House Womens Shelter
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Safe Shelter - The LHWS provides unhoused single women and unhoused women with children safe shelter by providing onsite security at all three shelter locations. Keeping these shelters up to date with their proprety maintenance and basic utilities. When shelters are at full capacity, the LHWS uses hotel vouchers to keep unhoused women and their children out of the weather elements. In 2025, 214 women and 38 Children were sheltered. 35 women were moved into rental properties. Case Management provides a continuum of care is in a 30-60-90 day plan that includes: meals, acquiring identification and social security cards, accessing physical & mental health care, obtaining GED/education, completing resumes and job applications, securing employment, saving money, and research and assistance in acquiring housing. The LHWS helps to remove barriers including transportation, car care, day care and housing fees.
- Income
- $924,822
- Spending
- $979,233
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $45,000, 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
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (housing, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 24% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (housing, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (3)
- $874,434 spent. Safe Shelter - The Life House provides unhoused single women and unhoused women with children safe shelter by providing onsite security at all 3 shelter locations keeping shelters up to date with property maintenance and providing basic utilities. In 2025 214 women and 38 children were sheltered and 35 women moved into rental properties. There were 21,600 nightly stays.Meals - The LH works to ensure that women and children have three meals per day. This is done through partnerships with two soup kitchens in town, a food pantry agency, and community partnerships. When there are gaps of coverage for meals, the LH has a budget to cover the needs.Case Management Client Care - When providing shelther and case management, the LH is starting homeless women on the continuum of care. Upon intake woemnt begin a 30-60-90 day plan that includes but is not limited to: acquiring ID and social security card, mental and physical health care, assistance with obtaining their GED or additional education, preparing resumes and job applications, security employment, saving money, and researching and applying for housing. We prevent barriers including transportation, emergency needs, car repairs, day care and fee assistance along their pay to being housed.
- $42,503 spent. Affordable Housing in Hartsville, South Carolina
- Transitional Housing - As the continuum of care, 3 women are housed in transitional housing which equips them on their way to self-sufficiency.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2022.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.