Housing Families First

What Housing Families First does

Housing Families First is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered at 3900 Nine Mile Road in Henrico, Virginia, that provides emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, and transitional housing programs to families and young adults experiencing homelessness in the Greater Richmond region. Its core service portfolio comprises the Hilliard House emergency shelter (with private-room settings expanded via the 2022 capital campaign), the Forging Foundations transitional housing program offering 12 beds across six townhomes for young adults ages 18-24, and the Bringing Families Home program delivered in partnership with Richmond Public Schools to stabilize housing for students and their families. Support services span case management, housing counseling, financial literacy training, and the HFF Boutique (in-kind household goods distributed on move-out day).

The organization's revenue model is donation-based with no fees charged to clients; income streams include individual and foundation gifts, The Hearth monthly giving community, legacy/planned giving, gifts of stock, celebration gift certificates, in-kind donations, merchandise sales via Bonfire, and peer-to-peer fundraising through OneCause. The most significant recent financial milestone was the $4.4 million 'Opening Doors for Families' capital campaign completed in August 2022, four months ahead of schedule, which funded facility expansion adding 10 shelter beds, a fully handicapped-accessible bedroom, and capacity to serve 300 additional people annually. Leadership comprises Executive Director Beth Vann-Turnbull, Deputy Director of Programs Cindy Moussavou (joined 2014), Deputy Director of Operations Terri Iguina (joined 2011), and Board Chair Will Melton (2024-2025); the board was expanded with seven new directors in October 2020 to support growth.

Name

Housing Families First

Legal name

Housing Families First

Website

https://housingfamiliesfirst.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Housing Families First is a Richmond, VA-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers emergency shelter, transitional housing, and rapid rehousing programs for families and young adults ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness across the Greater Richmond region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Family Housing Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA), Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

Keywords

• Emergency shelter services
• Transitional housing
• Rapid rehousing
• Homeless family services
• Housing case management

Headquarters

HQ city

Henrico

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Financial Donations: One-time and recurring financial donations from individuals, foundations, businesses, and congregations. Monthly giving community called 'The Hearth' provides stable, predictable revenue for program operations.
2. Legacy Gifts: Planned giving through bequests, retirement account beneficiaries, and life insurance policies to ensure long-term sustainability.
3. Gifts of Stock: Donations of stocks, bonds, and securities accepted as appreciated assets.
4. Celebration Gifts: Printable gift certificates for occasions where donations are made in honor of loved ones.
5. Gifts in Kind: In-kind donations of household items, bedding, kitchen essentials, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies for shelter and transitional housing programs.
6. Merchandise Sales: Sale of HFF branded merchandise (t-shirts, apparel) through Bonfire online store.
7. Capital Campaign: Major capital fundraising campaign ('Opening Doors for Families') for facility expansion and renovation, successfully raised $4.4 million.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Housing Families First is a nonprofit organization providing emergency shelter (Hilliard House), transitional housing for young adults ages 18-24 (Forging Foundations), rapid rehousing, and case management services for families experiencing homelessness in the Greater Richmond region of Virginia. The organization operates a coordinated continuum of services including housing counseling, financial literacy training, landlord coordination, and emergency financial assistance, all delivered free of charge to qualifying families and young adults.

Product overview

Housing Families First is a nonprofit organization providing a coordinated continuum of services for families experiencing homelessness in the Richmond, VA region. The organization operates a core emergency shelter program (Hilliard House), transitional housing for young adults (Forging Foundations), rapid rehousing services, and school-housing partnership programs (Bringing Families Home). Support services include case management, financial literacy training, housing counseling, and emergency financial assistance. The organization also operates donation programs including The Hearth monthly giving community, legacy gifts, and celebration gift certificates. Volunteer programs include the Evening Supper Program and various shelter support activities. The portfolio functions as an integrated service model where shelter, housing, and support programs work together to transition families from homelessness to stable, permanent housing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hilliard House: Emergency shelter program for families
• Building Neighbors
• Forging Foundations
• The Hearth
• Opening Doors for Families

Products and services

• Hilliard House Emergency Shelter Emergency shelter program providing temporary housing for families facing homelessness, with private room settings and family-friendly amenities. Operates at the 3900 Nine Mile Road, Henrico, VA facility with 10 additional shelter beds added through 2022 expansion.
• Forging Foundations Transitional Housing Transitional housing program for young adults ages 18-24 experiencing housing crisis in Greater Richmond. Provides 12 transitional housing beds across six master-leased townhomes in a condominium community in Richmond's East End, along with life skills and housing navigation support.
• Bringing Families Home Partnership program with Richmond Public Schools that works to move RPS students and their families who are unstably housed to stable, permanent housing through landlord partnerships, housing navigation, and financial assistance.
• The Hearth Monthly Giving Program Monthly giving community that provides steady, predictable support for program operations through recurring donations from individuals, foundations, businesses, and congregations.
• Evening Supper Program Volunteer program where community members provide cooked meals or cater dinner for approximately 30 families staying at the emergency shelter, creating connection and comfort for families in residence.
• Legacy Gifts Program Planned giving program allowing donors to include Housing Families First in estate plans through bequests, retirement account beneficiary designations, or life insurance policies to ensure long-term sustainability.
• Celebration Gifts Printable gift certificates for all occasions that allow donors to make a donation in honor of a friend, coworker, or loved one as an alternative to traditional gifts.
• HFF Merchandise Store Online merchandise store selling Housing Families First branded apparel and items through Bonfire, with proceeds supporting shelter programs and families served.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300 additional people housed annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost partnership for annual signature fundraising event 'The Art of Housing' held at the VMFA venue, celebrating achievements and raising funds for the organization
• Richmond Greek FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHFF is one of four charities selected to benefit from the 47th Annual Richmond Greek Festival, receiving a portion of proceeds. Since 2000, the festival has contributed over $350,000 to local organizations.
• Richmond Public Schools - Bringing Families HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership program that works to move RPS students and their families who are unstably housed to stable, permanent housing through housing navigation and landlord coordination
• Virginia Department of HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted on-site COVID vaccination clinics for shelter families and staff members
• Beaumont Correctional FacilityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIncarcerated individuals organized school supply drives for shelter children, raising $825 and donating supplies. Unique community engagement partnership demonstrating broad volunteer support.
• Omega Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha SororityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity service partnership through Operation AKA Assist program, providing snack bags, supplies, and volunteer support for families in shelter
• Partnership for Housing AffordabilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJovan D. Burton serves as Director of Implementation, representing HFF's connection to regional housing policy coordination
• VCU Rams BaseballminorGTM or Marketing Partner$5 from every ticket purchased through special link for VCU vs Saint Louis game donated to Housing Families First

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Family Promise: National nonprofit focused on preventing and ending family homelessness through shelter, rapid rehousing, and stabilization programs. Closely comparable mission and service model to HFF, operating a network of affiliate programs across the U.S.
• HomeAid America: Nonprofit that develops and operates housing for families and individuals experiencing homelessness, partnering with the building industry. Directly comparable nonprofit housing model serving similar populations.
• HomeAgain: Richmond-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, and permanent supportive housing for families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Local direct peer competing for the same regional donor and volunteer base.
• CARITAS: Richmond-based nonprofit offering shelter, housing, and workforce development for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Local peer operating similar continuum-of-care services in the same geography.
• Virginia Supportive Housing: Virginia-based nonprofit providing permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness and disabilities. Comparable regional housing-focused nonprofit with similar funding model and target population.

Broad incumbents

• Volunteers of America: Large national nonprofit operating family housing, rapid rehousing, and supportive service programs across many states. Broader portfolio but overlapping family homelessness services.
• Catholic Charities USA: National network of Catholic Charities agencies providing housing, shelter, and family support services. Larger and broader but materially overlapping service lines.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Global nonprofit building affordable housing and providing housing services for low-income families. Comparable nonprofit housing mission and family focus, but at vastly larger scale.

Regional players

• YWCA Richmond: Richmond-based YWCA chapter providing housing, domestic violence services, and family support programs. Same geography, similar donor base, and overlapping family/domestic-violence-related service lines.

Others

• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit addressing affordable housing through development, lending, and policy advocacy. Adjacent ecosystem participant — not a direct service competitor but a comparable nonprofit housing organization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/housingfamiliesfirst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/housing-families-first
• Instagraminstagram.com/housingfirstrva

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Housing Families First