Community Solutions
Community Solutions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that runs Built for Zero, a methodology helping 100+ U.S. and international communities use real-time by-name data to measurably reduce and end homelessness.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Community Solutions does
Community Solutions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Rosanne Haggerty (previously founder of Common Ground/Breaking Ground) and headquartered in New York. The organization operates Built for Zero, a methodology and movement that helps communities use real-time, by-name data systems — tracking every person experiencing homelessness, updated at least monthly — to coordinate housing responses and drive population-level reductions toward "functional zero." It serves 100+ communities across the U.S. and internationally in Australia, Canada, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, with named engagements including Rockford (IL), Chattanooga (TN), Lynchburg (VA), Minneapolis/Hennepin County, Adelaide, and Port Phillip.
The organization's technology approach is methodological rather than a standalone software product: it centers on a Quality By-Name Data System, a Functional Zero methodology, Quality Improvement Science adapted from healthcare, and a Real-Time Data Command Center model patterned on CitiStat. Communities join through a formal enrollment process and receive monthly coaching, peer learning, and methodology guidance; the underlying data infrastructure typically leverages HMIS and Tableau within each community.
Community Solutions' revenue model is philanthropic: it is funded primarily by foundation grants (most notably a $100M MacArthur Foundation 100&Change grant in 2021), corporate philanthropy (JPMorgan Chase, The Home Depot Foundation's $80M veteran homelessness commitment, Rocket Mortgage, Ballmer Group, Kaiser), individual donations, and a small consulting/services stream. It does not sell a commercial product and has no traditional pricing. The organization is led by President Rosanne Haggerty with 101–250 employees, and has housed 101,628 homeless Americans through the prior 100,000 Homes Campaign (2010–2014) while driving a >55% decline in U.S. veteran homelessness since 2010.
Community Solutions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Community Solutions
- Legal name
- Community Solutions
- Website
- https://community.solutions
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Community Solutions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that runs Built for Zero, a methodology helping 100+ U.S. and international communities use real-time by-name data to measurably reduce and end homelessness.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Community Solutions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Homelessness Services and Social Impact Consulting
- NAICS
- Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Individual and Family Services (6241)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL)
Keywords
Where Community Solutions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Community Solutions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation Grants: Community Solutions receives significant funding from major foundations. The most notable is the MacArthur Foundation's 100&Change grant of $100 million awarded in 2021 to accelerate an end to homelessness in the U.S. through Built for Zero. Other foundation funders include Ballmer Group and Kaiser.
- Corporate Philanthropy: Corporate partners provide funding and support. JPMorgan Chase has provided over $750,000 in funding since 2011. The Home Depot Foundation committed $80 million to help ensure every Veteran has a safe place to call home. Rocket Mortgage/Rocket Community Fund supports community initiatives and video production.
- Individual Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals through its website (givingfuel.com), with donors giving $1,000 or more recognized in the annual report.
- Consulting Services: Community Solutions provides consulting services to communities working to end homelessness through the Built for Zero methodology, including coaching, training, and technical assistance.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Community Solutions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Community Solutions is a non-profit organization that helps communities measurably reduce and end homelessness through its Built for Zero methodology. The organization recruits local governments, Continuum of Care organizations, and health systems to implement real-time, by-name data systems and coordinated response teams that track every person experiencing homelessness and drive population-level reductions toward functional zero.
Product overview
Community Solutions operates primarily as a methodology and movement organization rather than a software product company. Their core offering is the Built for Zero methodology—a collaborative approach that helps communities use real-time, by-name data to measurably end homelessness. The Built for Zero framework includes quality data standards, integrated community teams, shared accountability structures, and resource targeting strategies. Previously, they led the 100,000 Homes Campaign (2010-2014), which housed over 100,000 homeless Americans. Community Solutions does not offer a standalone software product but provides guidance, coaching, and a framework that communities adapt using their own data systems (such as HMIS and Tableau) to achieve functional zero for homelessness.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Built for Zero: A movement of 100+ communities working to measurably end homelessness using real-time data systems and coordinated community responses
Products and services
- Built for Zero
- 100,000 Homes Campaign
Quantifiable outcome
- 14 communities have functionally ended veteran or chronic homelessness using the Built for Zero methodology
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Community Solutions
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Community Solutions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Community Solutions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and notable.
- Providence Health SystemmajorHealth system partner demonstrating the role health care systems can play in ending homelessness. Providence has deployed long-term relationships with partners in Anchorage, AK and is scaling learnings across their footprint. Justin Crowe, Senior Vice President of Community Partnerships, is quoted as supporting the Built for Zero approach.
- Institute for Healthcare ImprovementmajorCommunity Solutions and IHI are leading a pilot initiative exploring how health care systems can help communities end chronic homelessness. This partnership adapts quality improvement science from health care to homelessness response.
- Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership InitiativemajorThe Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University developed a case study about Rockford, Illinois' work to end veteran homelessness as part of Built for Zero. The case is designed to help senior government leaders understand how to build data-analytics capabilities for tackling complex urban problems.
- Canadian Alliance to End HomelessnessmajorPartner adapting Built for Zero data quality standards for use in Canada. Toronto Alliance to End Homelessness worked with the Canadian Alliance to implement real-time data dashboards following Built for Zero methodology.
- Advance to Zero (Australia)majorAustralian affiliate of Built for Zero, supporting communities like Adelaide and Port Phillip in implementing the methodology. Adelaide Zero Project was the first community outside North America to achieve quality by-name list data.
- Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)coreThe 100,000 Homes Campaign was patterned after IHI's 100,000 Lives Campaign. IHI President Maureen Bisognano congratulated Community Solutions on reaching 100,000 homes housed, noting the campaign's audacious goal and deadline approach.
- Minnesota Department of Veterans AffairsmajorAwarded $6 million for 150 vouchers to the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) in 2021. The community also received $4 million from the Minnesota Legislature for Veterans Supportive Housing Options program.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)coreFederal partner working with Built for Zero communities to end veteran homelessness. VA provides HUD-VASH vouchers, Grant and Per Diem programs, and collaborates with local VA Medical Centers in communities like Rockford, Lynchburg, and Minneapolis.
- Loaves and Fishes Ministries (Fremont County, CO)notableFaith-based organization in Fremont County, CO that worked for decades independently before joining the community-wide Built for Zero collaboration in 2019. Fremont County reached functional zero for veteran homelessness in May 2021.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Community Solutions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- National Low Income Housing Coalition: National advocacy organization dedicated to ending the affordable housing crisis. Comparable mission focus on housing access for low-income populations; complementary rather than overlapping in approach.
- Breaking Ground (formerly Common Ground): NYC-based supportive housing nonprofit previously founded by Rosanne Haggerty. Direct methodological lineage to Community Solutions and operates overlapping homeless services in a major U.S. city.
- National Alliance to End Homelessness: National nonprofit policy and research organization focused on ending homelessness in the U.S. Comparable in mission scope and federal advocacy role, though NAEH focuses on policy/research while Community Solutions focuses on operational methodology.
- Corporation for Supportive Housing: National nonprofit that advances supportive housing for vulnerable populations. Comparable in operating model - provides technical assistance, consulting, and capacity-building to communities addressing homelessness.
Broad incumbents
- Mercy Housing: One of the largest U.S. affordable housing nonprofits operating across multiple states. Comparable in operating affordable and supportive housing programs, though Mercy Housing owns/operates housing directly versus Community Solutions' methodology-coaching model.
- United Way Worldwide: Global nonprofit that funds and convenes local United Way chapters addressing community needs including homelessness. Comparable in operating model as a national convener with local affiliates; broader portfolio of community services.
- Habitat for Humanity International: Massive global nonprofit addressing housing affordability through volunteer-built affordable homes. Comparable in housing-focused nonprofit mission at international scale, though focused on homeownership versus ending homelessness specifically.
- Enterprise Community Partners: Large national nonprofit focused on affordable housing development and community development finance. Comparable in scale and mission scope on affordable housing, with broader development finance and real estate capabilities.
- Volunteers of America: Large national nonprofit providing housing and human services including homeless services. Comparable in serving homeless and vulnerable populations with broad service portfolio including shelters, transitional housing, and reentry.
Regional players
- Heartland Alliance: Chicago-based anti-poverty and human services nonprofit providing housing, healthcare, and human services. Comparable in operating supportive housing and homelessness programs, primarily in the Midwest U.S.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Community Solutions social profiles
Digital presenceCommunity Solutions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Community Solutions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Community Solutions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Community Solutions M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Community Solutions
What does Community Solutions do?
Community Solutions is a non-profit organization that helps communities measurably reduce and end homelessness through its Built for Zero methodology. The organization recruits local governments, Continuum of Care organizations, and health systems to implement real-time, by-name data systems and coordinated response teams that track every person experiencing homelessness and drive population-level reductions toward functional zero.
Is Community Solutions a public or private company?
Community Solutions is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Community Solutions founded?
Community Solutions was founded in 2010. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Community Solutions based?
Community Solutions is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Community Solutions make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Foundation Grants are the primary driver. The others are corporate Philanthropy, individual Donations and consulting Services.
Who are Community Solutions's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are National Low Income Housing Coalition, Breaking Ground (formerly Common Ground), National Alliance to End Homelessness and Corporation for Supportive Housing. Broad incumbents are Mercy Housing, United Way Worldwide, Habitat for Humanity International, Enterprise Community Partners and Volunteers of America. Heartland Alliance is listed as a regional player.
Does Community Solutions have an API?
No public API is recorded for Community Solutions.
What industry is Community Solutions in?
Community Solutions's product category is Homelessness Services and Social Impact Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAB, Housing Assistance & Homeless Services, with a secondary code of BPAGALAC, Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts). Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.