Union Station Homeless Services
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE WORK TO END HOMELESSNESS THROUGH HOUSING SOLUTIONS, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AND CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY. WE ADVOCATE FOR EQUITABLE AND JUST SYSTEMS THAT ENSURE ALL INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WILL HAVE A SAFE PLACE THEY CAN CALL HOME.
- Income
- $46.8 million
- Spending
- $43.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 4.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 78%
- Employees
- 390
- Volunteers
- 4,342
- Highest pay
- $230,334, chief operations officer
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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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 (4)
- $3.1 million spent. PROGRAMS OVERVIEWOUR PROGRAMS OFFER A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES THAT MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. AS WE CONTINUE TO CONFRONT THE ONGOING PANDEMIC AND THE HOMELESS CRISIS, WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO MEET THE WIDE-RANGING HOUSING, HEALTH, AND HUNGER NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. OUR APPROACH HAS FOUR CORE PILLARS OF SERVICES: OUTREACH, INTERIM HOUSING, PERMANENT HOUSING, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING. THESE PILLARS ARE DESIGNED TO NOT ONLY MEET PEOPLES IMMEDIATE NEEDS, BUT TO OFFER A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THEIR JOURNEY FROM HOMELESSNESS TO HOUSING WITH LONG-TERM STABILITY.OUTREACH: AS THE DESIGNATED LEAD AGENCY FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY'S COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM (CES) FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FOR FAMILIES IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY (SERVICE PLANNING AREA 3), UNION STATION PROVIDES REGIONAL COORDINATION OF HOMELESS SERVICES. IN THIS ROLE, WE MANAGE OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, PROVIDE SPECIALIZED COORDINATION OF SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE MATCHING OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. TOGETHER WITH OVER 130 LOCAL PARTNERS, WE PROVIDE STREET OUTREACH; INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT; DATA COLLECTION; CARE COORDINATION; SERVICES LINKAGES; AND HOUSING NAVIGATION, PLACEMENT, AND RETENTION ASSISTANCE. WE ALSO PROVIDE HOMELESS PREVENTION SERVICES FOR FAMILIES AT IMMINENT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.UNDERPINNING THESE EFFORTS ARE OUR REGIONALLY BASED MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAMS THAT INCLUDE A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, SUBSTANCE USE SPECIALIST, MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST, AND OUTREACH WORKER WITH LIVED EXPERTISE, WHO SPECIALIZE IN ACCESSING THE MOST VULNERABLE AND DIFFICULT-TO-REACH CLIENTS. THESE TEAMS ARE ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE IN ENGAGING CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, WHO ARE OFTEN RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT ASSISTANCE. TO BOLSTER THESE EFFORTS, WE HAVE FORMED RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO PERFORM ASSESSMENTS, TESTING, AND PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS ON THE STREET AND WORK WITH LOCAL HOSPITALS AND CLINICS TO COORDINATE HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR THOSE WE SERVE. OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS EXTEND TO FORMAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH CITIES ACROSS THE REGION, SUCH AS PASADENA WHERE UNION STATION STAFF WORK ALONGSIDE THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS HOMELESS OUTREACH PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION (HOPE) TEAM AND PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS OUTREACH RESPONSE TEAM (PORT) TO SUPPORT FIRST RESPONDERS IN ASSESSING PEOPLES MENTAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS IN RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY CALLS.
- $7.8 million spent. INTERIM HOUSING (SHELTER AND MOTEL VOUCHERS): UNION STATION PROVIDES TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AT EIGHT SITES ACROSS PASADENA AND NORTHEAST LOS ANGELES. WHILE WE QUICKLY WORK TO PLACE THEM IN PERMANENT HOUSING, INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING NAVIGATION, NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND FOODS, HEALTHCARE, AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROVIDED IN A TRAUMA-INFORMED ENVIRONMENT.-THE ADULT CENTER, OUR OLDEST EXISTING PROGRAM BUILT IN 1989, HAS 45 BEDS FOR SINGLE ADULTS IN PASADENA IN A CONGREGATE SETTING.-THE FAMILY CENTER OFFERS 14 UNITS FOR FAMILIES AND CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 50 PARENTS AND CHILDREN IN A HOME-LIKE ENVIRONMENT IN PASADENA.-HUNTINGTON VILLAS AND CASA LUNA ARE TWO MOTEL CONVERSIONS OFFERING 99 UNITS IN THE EL SERENO COMMUNITY.-THE HILDA SOLIS IRIS HOUSE, LE BLANC AND HOTEL HERITAGE ARE THREE ADDITIONAL MOTEL CONVERSIONS IN THE CITY OF EL MONTE OFFERING A TOTAL OF 120 NEW UNITS.WE ALSO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OF INTERIM HOUSING WITH MOTEL VOUCHERS, WHICH OFFER A PRIVATE ENVIRONMENT THAT MAY BETTER MEET THEIR NEEDS UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO ATTAIN PERMANENT HOUSING.PERMANENT HOUSING: OUR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING (PSH) PROGRAMS PROVIDE SAFE, AFFORDABLE, AND PRIVATE APARTMENTS FOR FORMERLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, AS WELL AS ONSITE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR LONG-TERM STABILITY. RESIDENTS IN ALL PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING LOCATIONS PAY 30% OF THEIR INCOME TO THE PROPERTY MANAGER AS RENT, AND UNION STATION PROVIDES THE ON-SITE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND CARE COORDINATION RESIDENTS NEED TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES AND RETAIN PERMANENT HOUSING. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, LINKAGE TO COMMUNITY SUPPORTS, AND BENEFITS ADVOCACY. OUR FIVE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SITES, INCLUDE:-EUCLID VILLA AND MARVS PLACE PROVIDE 14 AND 19 UNITS, RESPECTIVELY, FOR FAMILIES IN PASADENA.-CENTENNIAL PLACE OFFERS 142 SINGLE-ROOM OCCUPANCY APARTMENTS FOR VERY LOW-INCOME ADULTS IN PASADENA.-HERITAGE SQUARE SOUTH OFFERS 69 PRIVATE UNITS FOR SENIORS IN PASADENA.-MIRADOR, OUR NEWEST ADDITION IN ALTADENA, OFFERS 35 UNITS FOR SENIORS.UNION STATION ALSO OFFERS SEVERAL SCATTERED-SITE PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAMS INCLUDING HOLLY STREET HOUSING, WHICH LINKS CHRONICALLY HOMELESS ADULTS AND FAMILIES WITH COMMUNITY HOUSING RESOURCES; HOUSING FOR HEALTH, WHICH PROVIDES ONSITE SPECIALIZED CARE SERVICES TO CHRONICALLY HOMELESS ADULTS WITH COMPLEX HEALTH ISSUES; AND THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (LACDA) PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ALONG WITH COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES AT SCATTERED SITE LOCATIONS IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. UNION STATION ALSO USES AN INNOVATIVE RAPID RE-HOUSING APPROACH TO HELP FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH LOW AND MODERATE SERVICE NEEDS REGAIN STABILITY AFTER SLIPPING INTO HOMELESSNESS.
- $22.3 million spent. COMMUNITY BUILDING: AT UNION STATION, WE REALIZE THAT A ROOF OVER SOMEONES HEAD IS NOTENOUGH TO SUPPORT THEIR LONG-TERM WELLBEING. THAT IS WHY WE ALSO SPECIALIZE IN HOLISTIC AND EXTENDED SUPPORT. THROUGH OUR EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, UNION STATION GIVES INDIVIDUALS THE TOOLS TO CONNECT TO MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT. PARTICIPANTS MAY RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED JOB SEARCH AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE; JOB PLACEMENT; INTERVIEW, TRANSPORTATION, AND WORK CLOTHES ASSISTANCE; EMPLOYMENT RETENTION SUPPORT; AND ACCESS TO RESOURCE ROOMS WITH COMPUTERS AND PHONES. MOREOVER, BUILT ON OUR BELIEF THAT A KEY FACTOR FOR HOUSING RETENTION AND SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AS THEY BUILD COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND ENGAGE WITH NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS.GIVEN OUR DECADES OF EXPERIENCE ON THE FRONTLINES OF THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, WE KNOW THAT SYSTEMIC CHANGE IS NEEDED TO PREVENT SO MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS FROM FALLING INTO HOMELESSNESS. THEREFORE, OUR LIVED EXPERTISE ADVISORY PANEL (LEAP) PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO THE ORGANIZATION REGARDING THE TYPES OF SERVICES WE SHOULD PROVIDE AND THE ADVOCACY ISSUES WE SHOULD ADDRESS, ENSURING THAT THE PERSPECTIVES OF THOSE WE SERVE ARE REPRESENTED.VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: WE CAN ONLY OPEN MORE DOORS AND EMBRACE MORE COMMUNITIES WITH THE HELP OF OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS. THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS HAVE CONTINUED TO SERVE ALONGSIDE OUR STAFF THROUGHOUT THE LAST YEAR. THEY SUPPORT OUR STAFF WITH MEAL SERVICES, ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS, AND OTHER VITAL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT ENABLE OUR STAFF TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF SERVICE FOR ALL OUR CLIENTS. VOLUNTEERS HAVE GENEROUSLY GIVEN THEIR TIME AND TALENT TO SEVERAL OF OUR KEY PROGRAMS AND ALONG THE WAY, THEY HAVE FOUND PURPOSE AND JOY WHEN CONNECTING WITH OUR CLIENTS.
- $1.0 million spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS
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 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 June 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 August 1987.
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.