Community Human Services

What Community Human Services does

Community Human Services (CHS) is a Pittsburgh-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 by Phil Pappas in the wake of the steel industry's collapse. Headquartered at 2525 Liberty Avenue, the organization delivers services across four collaborative departments — Community Programs, Housing, Shelter, and Residential — and serves more than 7,000 unduplicated individuals annually in the Greater Pittsburgh area. Programmatic offerings include a 51-bed emergency shelter at Wood Street Commons, five scattered community-based shelter sites serving up to 60 individuals, eight family shelter units, a 119-bed total emergency shelter capacity, an Oakland Food Pantry serving 5,926 individuals per year (supported by Dollar Bank), four rental-assistance pathways (one-time assistance, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, innovative housing), the Community Bridge residential program, and Family Foundations Early Head Start operating across six Allegheny County communities. Participant services include peer support and therapeutic services staffed by a Licensed Social Worker and Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner.

The organization operates on trauma-informed, housing-first, and harm-reduction principles. Housing, shelter, and residential referrals flow through the Allegheny Link, the single access point for the Allegheny County Continuum of Care, while community programs are open walk-in to any Pittsburgh-area resident. CHS does not operate proprietary technology platforms; service delivery relies on case management, community-based programming, and standard operational tools (Bloomerang donation CRM, SignupGenius volunteer scheduling, Squarespace web presence).

CHS employs a 110-member team and is primarily funded by the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, supplemented by individual donations, foundation grants (including a $175,000 Richard King Mellon Foundation award in 2020), corporate sponsorship (Dollar Bank), and annual fundraising events (The Big Share, CHS Golf Classic). Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The organization has been recognized as a Pittsburgh Top Workplace for three consecutive years (2023–2025).

Name

Community Human Services

Legal name

Community Human Services

Website

https://chscorp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community Human Services is a Pittsburgh-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 that delivers emergency shelter, housing assistance, food distribution, and residential programs across Allegheny County, serving more than 7,000 unduplicated individuals annually through county and donor funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human and Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (62421), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

Keywords

• Homeless services
• Emergency shelter
• Food assistance
• Housing support
• Community programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (Allegheny County DHS): CHS is primarily funded by Allegheny County's Department of Human Services, which funds housing support, food distribution, and community-based programming operations.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Monetary donations from individuals and organizations support shelter, food, and community programs. The organization runs an annual fundraiser (The Big Share) and a golf classic event raising nearly $16,000 for housing programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Community Human Services (CHS) is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that delivers free housing, shelter, food, and therapeutic services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness or food insecurity across Allegheny County. Operating four collaborative departments (Community Programs, Housing, Shelter, and Residential), CHS provides emergency shelter beds, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, food distribution through the Oakland Food Pantry, residential transition programs, peer support, and therapeutic services under trauma-informed and harm-reduction principles.

Product overview

Community Human Services (CHS) is a nonprofit social services organization operating four collaborative departments—Community Programs, Housing, Shelter, and Residential—that work together to address homelessness and food insecurity in Allegheny County. The organization offers emergency shelters (including scattered sites, family shelters, and 51 beds at Wood Street Commons), housing assistance programs (one-time assistance, permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, and innovative housing), residential programs (Community Bridge), and community programs (the Oakland Food Pantry, Wood Street Commons Social Center, and Family Foundations Early Head Start). Participant Services provide peer support and therapeutic services. All programs operate on trauma-informed, housing-first, and harm-reduction principles, serving over 7,000 unduplicated individuals annually through the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CHS Oakland Food Pantry, Supported by Dollar Bank A food pantry that distributes fresh produce, non-perishables, dairy, meat/fish, and household items to address food insecurity in Allegheny County. Recipients shop for their own items.
• Community & Social Center at Wood Street Commons A welcoming space for Wood Street residents offering a technology center, agency office space, recreational area, coffee bar, and activities room for community building.
• Family Foundations Early Head Start An in-home child development and family support program providing early literacy development, parent education, health education and referrals, mental health support, and nutritional services to low-income families with children from birth to age three.
• One Time Assistance Rental assistance and housing stabilization program that assists participants with initial costs requested by prospective landlords.
• Permanent Supportive Housing Rental assistance program for individuals with disabilities and families with a disabled household member experiencing homelessness, providing employment assistance, life skills training, and resource referrals.
• Rapid Re-Housing A rental assistance program designed to quickly move individuals or families into stable housing while working toward self-sufficiency.
• Innovative Housing Rental assistance for individuals with special circumstances such as high hospitalization rates, transitions from residential settings, or substance abuse disorder.
• Community-Based (Scattered Sites) Shelter Five scattered sites throughout Allegheny County serving up to 60 individuals or couples over age 18, with community support specialists assisting in obtaining benefits and permanent housing.
• Family Shelter Eight emergency shelter units allowing families with minors to remain together while meeting with a Community Support Specialist to address basic needs and secure permanent housing.
• Emergency Shelter at Wood Street Commons A 51-bed temporary-stay emergency shelter program helping individuals stabilize, secure income, connect with resources, and locate permanent housing.
• Community Bridge A facility-based residential program assisting individuals in transitioning from shelter to independent housing through job training, transportation assistance, and community engagement activities.
• Peer Support Services Services assigning a Peer Support Specialist to assist participants with life skills, benefits navigation, substance use support, financial literacy, advocacy, and job search preparation.
• Therapeutic Services Nursing services and mental health clinic access staffed by a Licensed Social Worker and Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, available upon referral.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 7,000 unduplicated individuals served annually through housing support, food distribution, and community-based programming.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dollar BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDollar Bank sponsors the CHS Oakland Food Pantry, which aims to eliminate food insecurity in Allegheny County by distributing fresh produce, non-perishables, dairy, and meat to people in need. The partnership provides financial support enabling weekly food distribution to 5,926 individuals annually.
• Aspire Grant & DevelopmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Human Services is a proud partner of Aspire Grant & Development, which assists with grant writing and development services to support the organization's funding strategies and capacity building.
• Allegheny LinkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Allegheny Link provides Coordinated Entry as the single access point for the Allegheny County Continuum of Care. It assigns referrals directly to CHS for Housing, Shelter, and Residential programs. The Link assists households with accessing emergency shelters, rental assistance, long-term housing programs, and prevention services.
• University of Pittsburgh Early Head Start GrantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHS is a contract provider of Family Foundations Early Head Start, a program of the University of Pittsburgh's Office of Child Development. The program operates in high-risk neighborhoods across six local communities in Allegheny County, serving low-income parents with children from birth to age three and expectant families.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Light of Life Rescue Mission: Light of Life Rescue Mission is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, meals, and housing programs for individuals experiencing homelessness. It is one of CHS's closest direct peers in Allegheny County, competing for the same DHS-funded Continuum of Care contracts and serving overlapping populations.
• ACTION-Housing Inc. ACTION-Housing is a Pittsburgh nonprofit that develops and manages affordable housing and provides supportive housing services across Allegheny County. It is directly comparable to CHS's Housing department (one-time assistance, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing) and competes for the same county and HUD funding streams.
• Auberle: Auberle is a Pittsburgh-area human services nonprofit serving at-risk youth, families, and individuals experiencing housing instability, with programs spanning residential, community-based, and behavioral health services. Like CHS, it operates a continuum of residential and community programs and contracts with Allegheny County DHS.
• East End Cooperative Ministry: East End Cooperative Ministry (EECM) is a Pittsburgh faith-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, food pantry, housing case management, and supportive services in Allegheny County. It is a near-direct competitor to CHS across food, shelter, and housing programs and draws from the same referral and funding ecosystem.
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh: Catholic Charities of Pittsburgh is a regional social services nonprofit operating food pantries, housing assistance, refugee resettlement, and family support programs across Western Pennsylvania. It is comparable to CHS as a multi-program human services provider serving low-income and housing-insecure populations in the same county.
• The Salvation Army of Greater Pittsburgh: The Salvation Army of Greater Pittsburgh operates emergency shelters, transitional housing, food distribution, and case management services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the region. It is comparable to CHS in scale and service mix and competes for the same Continuum of Care and DHS contracts.
• Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania: Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is a regional nonprofit operating workforce development, housing programs, and community services. Like CHS, it contracts with Allegheny County DHS and provides a combination of housing, community, and supportive services for low-income populations.
• Providence Connections: Providence Connections is a Pittsburgh human services nonprofit serving families and individuals experiencing poverty and housing instability in the Hill District and surrounding neighborhoods. It is comparable to CHS as a community-based, multi-program social services provider in Allegheny County.
• Pittsburgh Mercy: Pittsburgh Mercy is a regional nonprofit operating behavioral health, intellectual disability, and community support services, including housing and residential programs. It overlaps with CHS's therapeutic services, peer support, and residential offerings, and serves similar vulnerable populations in Allegheny County.

Broad incumbents

• National Alliance to End Homelessness: The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a national advocacy and research organization focused on homelessness policy and federal funding. While not a direct service competitor, it shapes the federal funding and policy environment (HUD, Continuum of Care) that CHS depends on for its housing and shelter contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CHSCORPORATION
• Facebookfacebook.com/CommunityHumanServices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chscorp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Community Human Services