Homefirst Services of Santa Clara County
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HOMEFIRST CONFRONTS HOMELESSNESS BY CULTIVATING PEOPLE'S POTENTIAL TO GET HOUSED AND STAY HOUSED.
- Income
- $62.2 million
- Spending
- $63.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 84%
- Employees
- 584
- Volunteers
- 448
- Highest pay
- $356,561, coo, ceo (as of 11/2024)
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
Weak: 43 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 53% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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 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)
- EIH-RUE FERRARI:HOMEFIRST, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SAN JOS, OPERATES THE EMERGENCY INTERIM HOUSING (EIH) PROGRAM AT THE RUE FERRARI SITE, PROVIDING LOW-BARRIER, NON-CONGREGATE TEMPORARY HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO UNHOUSED ADULTS. THE PROGRAM OFFERS 24/7 ON-SITE OPERATIONS, INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING NAVIGATION, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT, WITHIN A HOUSING FIRST FRAMEWORK. THROUGH A PHASED SERVICE APPROACH, THE PROGRAM STABILIZES PARTICIPANTS AND ASSISTS THEM IN SECURING AND MAINTAINING PERMANENT HOUSING, AS PART OF THE CITY'S BROADER HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
- SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES (SSVF):THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES RAPID REHUSING AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION SERVICES, HELPING VETERAN FAMILIES STABILIZE THEIR HOUSING SITUATION. SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RENT, UTILITIES AND SECURITY DEPOSITS, MEDIATION WITH LANDLORDS TO PREVENT EVICTION, RAPID REHOUSING ASSISTANCE IN SECURING PERMANENT HOUSING, CASE MANAGEMENT TO HELP ACCCESS MAINSTREAM BENEFITS SUCH AS FOOD ASSISTANCE AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS, EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT SUCH AS EMPLOYMENT SEARCH ASSISTANCE AND RESUME BUILDING, AND HEALTH SERVICES SUCH AS SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT REFERRALS.
- COLD WEATHER SHELTER-GILROY:HOMEFIRST OPERATES THE COLD WEATHER SHELTER PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SANTA CLARA COUNTY AT ITS GILROY SITE, PROVIDING SEASONAL, LOW-BARRIER EMERGENCY SHELTER AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THE PROGRAM OPERATES ON A REFERRAL BASIS AND OFFERS OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS, MEALS, HYGIENE FACILITIES, AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO HELP STABILIZE PARTICIPANTS AND CONNECT THEM TO HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. DESIGNED TO PROTECT VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS DURING PERIODS OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE PROGRAM SERVES AS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE COUNTY'S EMERGENCY SHELTER SYSTEM AND BROADER CONTINUUM OF CARE.
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
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 June 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 September 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.
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.