Community Access

What Community Access does

Community Access is a New York City-based nonprofit organization founded in 1974 in response to mass closures of psychiatric asylums and the resulting homelessness crisis. The organization provides an integrated portfolio of mental health and supportive housing services to adults with mental health concerns, housing-insecure individuals and families, and youth (ages 15-25) across all five NYC boroughs. Its core programs include affordable and supportive housing operated under the Housing First model, psychiatric rehabilitation, care coordination, crisis respite services (including the first peer-driven alternative to emergency psychiatric hospitalization in NYC), harm reduction, supported education, health and wellness services, advocacy, and the HTH Peer Training workforce academy, which has trained more than 2,000 graduates. The organization has cumulatively developed approximately $500 million in real estate providing homes to more than 2,000 individuals and families.

Community Access does not operate on a commercial business model; services are provided at no cost to beneficiaries. Revenue is generated through three principal streams: foundation and corporate grants (e.g., $300,000 from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation in March 2024), government contracts and subsidies that finance affordable and supportive housing development and operations, and individual charitable donations ranging from $25 to $10,000+. The organization maintains a distinctive governance and staffing commitment to having at least 51% of staff at all levels living with mental health concerns, positioning lived experience as the foundation of service delivery and workforce development.

The organization is currently executing an aggressive housing development pipeline across the Bronx and Manhattan, including Baez Place (154 units, completed March 2026 with $86M in state funding), 521 East Tremont Avenue (213 units, broke ground April 2026 with $162M in partnership with Mega Group), River Avenue Apartments II (292 units, $225M), and 730 East 13th Street in the East Village (220 units within a 570-unit project, co-developed with Spatial Equity). These projects are financed through a combination of state and city housing subsidies, co-development with private partners, and on-site health service partnerships with entities such as Community Healthcare Network.

Name

Community Access

Legal name

Community Access, Inc.

Website

https://communityaccess.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Community Access is a NYC-based nonprofit founded in 1974 that delivers integrated supportive housing and mental health services to individuals and families with mental health concerns across all five boroughs, operating $500M in developed real estate and a peer-led workforce model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health and Supportive Housing Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Independent Living with Supportive Services (Light ADL/IADL Support) (HLADAAAE)

Keywords

• Supportive housing services
• Mental health services
• Affordable housing development
• Psychiatric rehabilitation
• Peer workforce training

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants: Community Access receives grant funding from foundations and corporate philanthropies to support mental health programs, housing development, and community services. These are non-recurring funds that support specific programs such as psychiatric rehabilitation, care coordination, crisis respite services, and the East Village Access mental health program.
2. Government Contracts and Subsidies: Community Access develops and operates affordable and supportive housing financed through state and city housing programs, subsidies, and tax incentives, generating operational revenue through housing development and management.
3. Individual Donations: The organization accepts individual charitable contributions through its donation portal, with various giving tiers ranging from $25 to $10,000 and above, supporting tenants and participants in accessing mental health services and housing development.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Community Access is a nonprofit organization that develops and operates affordable and supportive housing and provides an integrated suite of mental health and social services for New Yorkers with mental health concerns and those experiencing homelessness. Its core offerings include supportive housing under the Housing First model, psychiatric rehabilitation, care coordination, crisis respite, harm reduction, peer-driven crisis support, supported education, the HTH Peer Training workforce academy, and health and wellness programs, all delivered at no cost to participants.

Product overview

Community Access is a New York City-based nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of mental health and housing services. The organization operates multiple integrated programs including affordable and supportive housing using the Housing First model, psychiatric rehabilitation, care coordination, crisis respite services, supported education, peer training (HTH Peer Training academy), health and wellness programs, residential crisis support, advocacy, and art programs. Major housing developments include Baez Place (154 units), River Avenue Apartments II (292 units), and the East Tremont Avenue project (213 units). Community Access also runs community engagement programs including the Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival and publishes C Magazine. The organization has developed $500 million in real estate providing homes to more than 2,000 individuals and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Changing Minds: A young filmmaker festival that shares and discusses short films about mental health, made by young filmmakers, aiming to positively change how people think and talk about youth mental health issues. The festival celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025 and 11th anniversary in 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• Developed $500 million in real estate providing homes to more than 2,000 individuals and families
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Mega GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2026Community Access and Mega Group co-developed 521 East Tremont Avenue, a 213-unit affordable and supportive housing development in the East Tremont/Crotona neighborhood of the Bronx. The $162 million project serves income-eligible individuals and families as well as those with mental health concerns who have experienced homelessness, featuring ground-floor retail and expanded on-site health services.
• Community Healthcare NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2026Community Healthcare Network partnered with Community Access and Mega Group to provide expanded on-site health services at the 521 East Tremont Avenue development in the Bronx. The Tremont Health Center will be tripled in size as part of the project, offering health services to residents and the surrounding community.
• Spatial EquitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2026Community Access and Spatial Equity partnered to develop affordable housing at 730 East 13th Street in Manhattan's East Village, part of a larger 570-unit project across multiple parcels. The Archdiocese of New York sold the site at 181 Avenue D to Community Access and Spatial Equity for $35 million.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Project Renewal: NYC-based nonprofit providing housing, employment, and healthcare services to people experiencing homelessness and mental illness. Most directly comparable to Community Access given shared focus on supportive housing and mental health in NYC.
• Breaking Ground: NYC nonprofit operating the largest supportive housing portfolio in the country with homelessness prevention and mental health programs. Direct peer in supportive housing development and operations for vulnerable populations.
• Services for the Underserved (S:US): NYC-based nonprofit providing housing, mental health, and recovery services to people with disabilities and other underserved populations. Comparable in scale, service breadth, and supportive housing model.
• Housing Works: NYC nonprofit combining housing, healthcare, and advocacy for people affected by homelessness, HIV/AIDS, and substance use. Comparable in integrated services model and advocacy-driven approach.
• Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS): NYC nonprofit that pioneered supportive housing and employment programs for people with mental health concerns, homelessness, and justice involvement. Direct peer in supportive housing and mental health services.
• CAMBA: Large NYC nonprofit providing housing, social services, and education programs across Brooklyn and the five boroughs. Comparable in housing development pipeline and social services breadth.
• The Fortune Society: NYC nonprofit focused on reentry, supportive housing, and alternatives to incarceration, with significant mental health and substance use programming. Comparable in serving justice-involved populations with mental health concerns.
• Urban Resource Institute (URI): NYC nonprofit providing shelter, supportive housing, and services for domestic violence survivors, people with disabilities, and homeless populations. Comparable in supportive housing operations and human services integration.

Broad incumbents

• Volunteers of America Greater New York: Regional affiliate of national nonprofit operating behavioral health, housing, and veteran services across NYC. Comparable in supportive housing and mental health service delivery at meaningful scale.

Emerging players

• Coalition for the Homeless: NYC advocacy and direct service nonprofit operating shelters and permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals and families. Comparable in mission focus though stronger on advocacy and shelter operations than development.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CommunityAccess
• Facebookfacebook.com/communityaccess
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-access
• Instagraminstagram.com/communityaccessinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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 Community Access