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Pajaro Valley Shelter Services

EIN 94-1393418 · Watsonville, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Pajaro Valley Shelter Services provides families with a path toward self-sufficient futures through short-and longer-term housing and supportive services.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
13.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
13
Volunteers
140
Highest pay
$121,101, executive dir.

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $696,713 spent. FAMILY EMERGENCY SHELTER:40 FAMILIES, COMPRISED OF 46 ADULTS AND 66 CHILDREN EXPERIENCING 40 FAMILIES, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT IMMINENT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IN SOUTHERN SANTA CRUZ AND NORTHERN MONTEREY COUNTIES ACCESS UP TO SIX MONTHS OF SHELTER AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AT PVSS'S FAMILY EMERGENCY SHELTER, LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN WATSONVILLE, CA. THE SHELTER IS A 5-ROOM/30-BED FACILITY. THE PROGRAM IS STRUCTURED, SUPPORTIVE AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL FREE. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE SHELTER PROGRAM IS TO SUCCESSFULLY EXIT ALL PARTICIPATING FAMILIES INTO TRANSITIONAL OR PERMANENT HOUSING, WITH THE SKILLS, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN THEIR EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING, PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURES, PURSUE HAPPINESS AND THRIVE UNDER A ROOF OF THEIR OWN. PARENTS PARTICIPATE IN CASE MANAGEMENT MEETINGS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK AND SET INDIVIDUALIZED GOALS FOR THEIR FAMILY. GOALS TYPICALLY INCLUDE THOSE RELATED TO SELF-CARE & EMOTIONAL STABILITY, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION, PARENTING SKILLS, PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT/BUDGETING/CREDIT REPAIR, SAVINGS FOR MOVE IN AND HOUSING COSTS. THE FAMILY EMERGENCY SHELTER PROVIDES ANNUALLY: 1,500 HOURS OF CASE MANAGEMENT; 3,300 HOURS OF PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND SHELTER COORDINATION; 24 HOUR/YR OF FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING; 24 HOURS/YR OF TRIPLE P PARENTING CLASSES; 30 HOURS/YR OF ACES AND FAMILY RESILIENCE-BUILDING WORKSHOPS; 24 HOURS/YR OF NUTRITION EDUCATION CLASSES; 27,000 MEALS TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS; AND UNLIMITED INFORMATION AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
  2. $444,717 spent. 2-YEAR FAMILY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING:26 FAMILIES CONSISTING OF 61 CHILDREN AND 40 ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT IMMINENT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IN SOUTHERN SANTA CRUZ AND NORTHERN MONTEREY COUNTIES ACCESS UP TO 24 MONTHS OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. THE PROGRAM IS OPERATED IN 13 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES LOCATED IN WATSONVILLE, CA. THE PROGRAM IS STRUCTURED,SUPPORTIVE AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL FREE. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO SUCCESSFULLY EXIT ALL PARTICIPATING FAMILIES INTO PERMANENT HOUSING, WITH THE SKILLS, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN THEIR EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING, PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURES, PURSUE HAPPINESS AND THRIVE UNDER A ROOF OF THEIR PARENTS PARTICIPATE IN CASE MANAGEMENT MEETINGS BI-WEEKLY AND SET INDIVIDUALIZED GOALS FOR THEIR FAMILY. GOALS TYPICALLY INCLUDE THOSE RELATED TO SELF-CARE & EMOTIONAL STABILITY, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION, PARENTING SKILLS, PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT/BUDGETING/CREDIT REPAIR, SAVINGS FOR RENTAL HOUSING MOVE-IN COSTS OR DOWN PAYMENTS FOR HOME OWNERSHIP. THE 2-YEAR FAMILY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDES ANNUALLY: 2,000 HOURS/YR OF CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT; 2,680 HOURS/YR OF PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SUPPORT; 24 HOURS/YR OF FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING; 24 HOURS/YR OF TRIPLE P PARENTING CLASSES; 30 HOURS/YR OF ACES AND FAMILY RESILIENCE-BUILDING WORKSHOPS; 24 HOURS/YR OF NUTRITION EDUCATION CLASSES; UNLIMITED INFORMATION AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
  3. FAMILY LONG TERM HOUSING:7 LOW-INCOME AND FORMERLY HOMELESS FAMILIES, CONSISTING OF 12 CHILDREN AND 11 ADULTS IN SOUTHERN SANTA CRUZ AND NORTHERN MONTEREY COUNTIES ACCESS LONG-TERM HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. THE PROGRAM IS OPERATED IN 6 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES LOCATED IN WATSONVILLE (4) AND ROYAL OAKS (2), CA. ALL RESIDENTS PAY 30% OF INCOME FOR RENT. 4 OF THE 6 HOMES ARE SUPPORTED BY SEC 8 PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE NON-TIME LIMITED, AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO FAMILIES FOR 5 YEARS OR LESS WHILE THEY PURSUE PERMANENT HOUSING THEY CAN AFFORD IN THE COMMUNITY. RESIDENTS RESIDING IN SEC 8 SUPPORTED HOMES FOR 1 YEAR OR MORE MAY EXIT AND ACQUIRE A HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER THAT CAN BE USED IN SEC 8 HOUSING OF THEIR CHOOSING. PARENTS PARTICIPATE IN CASE MANAGEMENT MEETINGS AS NEEDED TO PURSUE PERSONAL AND FAMILY GOALS RELATED TO SELF-CARE & EMOTIONAL STABILITY, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION, PARENTING SKILLS, PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT/BUDGETING/CREDIT REPAIR, SAVINGS FOR MOVE-IN COSTS OR DOWN PAYMENTS FOR HOME OWNERSHIP.THE FAMILY LONG-TERM HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDES ANNUALLY: 1,240 HOURS/YR OF CASE AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SUPPORT; 24 HOURS/YR OF FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING; 24 HOURS/YR OF TRIPLE P PARENTING CLASSES; 30 HOURS/YR OF ACES AND FAMILY RESILIENCE-BUILDING WORKSHOPS; 24 HOURS/YR OF NUTRITION EDUCATION CLASSES; UNLIMITED INFORMATION AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES.

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

  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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1987.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.