Housing Works

What Housing Works does

Housing Works, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 and headquartered at 57 Willoughby Street in Brooklyn, NY. The organization delivers integrated healthcare, deeply affordable and supportive housing, advocacy, harm reduction, and job training services to people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS, homeless and housing-insecure New Yorkers, the LGBTQ+ community, people who use drugs, justice-involved individuals, and asylum seekers. Its healthcare arm operates a network of five Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) under HRSA Section 330, providing primary care, mental health, sexual health, gender-affirming care, pediatrics, substance use support, and telehealth services, with NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition and FTCA malpractice coverage. Supporting technology includes a Healow-based patient portal, Zocdoc scheduling, and Square payment processing, alongside a digital food market initiative funded by the Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation.

The organization monetizes its mission through a hybrid nonprofit-social-enterprise model. Social enterprises include nine thrift shops in Manhattan and Brooklyn selling donated designer and vintage merchandise at up to 70% off retail, an iconic SOHO bookstore cafe that hosts weddings and private events, and a first-to-market adult-use cannabis dispensary in New York paired with a 6-week paid CREATE training program for justice-involved candidates. Healthcare services operate on a sliding fee scale based on family size and income, supplemented by HRSA federal grants, foundation grants (e.g., $300,000 over three years from Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation), individual donations, a membership program, and annual benefit events (Fashion for Action, Design on a Dime, Art House) sponsored by Gilead, AON, and UBS. The organization also runs an online thrift shop (RefindNYC), harm reduction programs in Puerto Rico (Intercambios) and Haiti, and advocacy offices in Albany and Washington D.C. Governance is provided by a multi-board structure (parent, Community Healthcare, Thrift Shop, Bookstore Cafe, Intercambios, Bailey House) chaired by Earl Ward, Esq., with Charles King serving as CEO and Jessica Diamond as Executive Director of Housing Works Community Healthcare.

Name

Housing Works

Legal name

Housing Works Inc.

Website

https://housingworks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Housing Works is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that delivers integrated healthcare, housing, advocacy, and social enterprise services to people living with HIV/AIDS, homeless New Yorkers, and LGBTQ+ communities across NYC, Albany, Washington D.C., Haiti, and Puerto Rico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Healthcare & Social Services (HIV/AIDS)

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Health–Capable Assisted Living (Mental Health/SUD Support) (HLADABAI), Housing & Placement Coordination (Assisted Living, Memory Care, SNF) (HSABAIAL), Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB)

Keywords

• Community health services
• HIV/AIDS support
• Supportive housing programs
• Harm reduction services
• Social enterprise thrift

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Thrift Shop Sales: Revenue from 9 acclaimed thrift shops selling donated designer merchandise and vintage items, providing crucial funding for mission and jobs for job training program clients.
2. Bookstore Cafe: Iconic SOHO bookstore and cafe generating revenue while providing event space for weddings and private rentals.
3. Cannabis Dispensary: First-to-market adult use cannabis dispensary in New York providing retail revenue.
4. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations like Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation ($300,000 over three years) for specific programs.
5. Donations and Membership: Charitable donations from individuals and membership program revenue.
6. Special Events: Annual fundraising events including Fashion for Action, Design on a Dime, and Art House with corporate sponsors like Gilead, AON, and UBS.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Housing Works is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides integrated healthcare through five Federally Qualified Health Centers, supportive and affordable housing for people living with HIV/AIDS, harm reduction services, legal assistance, job training, and case management. It funds these services through nine thrift shops, a bookstore cafe in SoHo, a cannabis dispensary, annual benefit events, charitable donations, and government grants. The organization has served over 30,000 homeless and low-income New Yorkers since 1990, currently reaching nearly 20,000 clients annually.

Product overview

Housing Works is a non-profit organization operating as a multi-service social enterprise with three main pillars: Lifesaving Services (community healthcare, housing, legal aid, job training), Relentless Advocacy (HIV/AIDS, social justice policy work), and Entrepreneurial Businesses (thrift shops, bookstore cafe). The community healthcare operates 5 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) providing primary care, mental health, substance use support, and specialty services. Additional programs include harm reduction services in Puerto Rico, Haiti operations, and justice initiatives supporting reentry. The organization pioneered the social enterprise model where business profits directly fund mission activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Intercambios: Harm reduction program in Puerto Rico supporting the rights and well-being of people who use drugs through syringe exchange, advocacy towards decriminalization, and social education.

Products and services

• Housing Works Community Healthcare Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) network providing comprehensive primary care, mental health, sexual health, gender-affirming care, substance use support, pediatrics, and telehealth services for vulnerable New Yorkers regardless of insurance or ability to pay.
• Housing Services Deeply affordable and supportive housing for New Yorkers, including long-term residential housing for people living with HIV/AIDS and short-term housing for asylum seekers and those exiting incarceration.
• Housing Works Thrift Shops Network of 9 thrift shops in Manhattan and Brooklyn selling donated designer merchandise and vintage items at up to 70% off retail, generating mission funding and providing jobs to clients who complete Housing Works' job training program.
• Housing Works Bookstore Cafe Iconic SOHO bookstore and cafe at 126 Crosby Street generating earned revenue and serving as a venue for weddings, private rentals, and community events.
• Housing Works Cannabis Dispensary First-to-market adult use cannabis dispensary in New York providing retail revenue and serving as an employment site for the CREATE training program.
• Justice Initiatives Comprehensive reentry services including case management, healthcare connection, vocational support, and alternative-to-incarceration programs for justice-involved individuals.
• Advocacy Policy advocacy through offices in NYC, Albany, Washington D.C., Haiti, and Puerto Rico, fighting for funding and legislation to support people living with HIV/AIDS and related vulnerable populations.
• CREATE (Cannabis Assistance Employment & Training Experience) 6-week paid training program for people with criminal justice involvement to prepare them for employment in New York City's legal cannabis retail industry.
• Intercambios Puerto Rico Harm Reduction Harm reduction program in Puerto Rico supporting the rights and well-being of people who use drugs through syringe exchange, advocacy toward decriminalization, and social education.
• Online Shop (RefindNYC) E-commerce platform selling thrift shop merchandise and auction items, extending the social enterprise retail model beyond physical thrift shop locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served nearly 20,000 clients annually in NYC with healthcare, housing, job training services.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedicare navigation partnership providing free assistance through licensed Medicare advisors who review healthcare needs, prescriptions, and budget to help find appropriate coverage.
• Legal Action CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint legal representation with Housing Works and Anna Marie Richmond, Esq. representing Betty Jones in discrimination lawsuit against Buffalo State for HIV-related discrimination, resulting in $115,000 settlement.
• MOCJ (Mayor's Office for Criminal Justice)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Mayor's Office for Criminal Justice providing hotel portfolio for short-term housing for people coming out of incarceration.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis): GMHC is a leading NYC-based HIV/AIDS service organization offering healthcare, housing, and advocacy. It is the most direct functional peer to Housing Works, both sharing origins in the NYC AIDS crisis and overlapping service lines across HIV care, mental health, and supportive housing.
• Callen-Lorde Community Health Center: Callen-Lorde is an NYC FQHC specializing in LGBTQ+ primary care, sexual health, mental health, and gender-affirming care. It directly competes with Housing Works' Community Healthcare division for the same LGBTQ+ and HIV-affected patient population.
• Harlem United: Harlem United is an NYC-based nonprofit providing integrated HIV/AIDS healthcare, housing, and harm reduction services. It shares Housing Works' wraparound service model and target populations (people living with HIV, homeless individuals, people who use drugs).
• Project Renewal: Project Renewal is a major NYC nonprofit addressing homelessness through housing, healthcare, and workforce programs. It overlaps with Housing Works on shelter, supportive housing, FQHC-level primary care, and job training for vulnerable populations.
• CAMBA: CAMBA is a large Brooklyn-based nonprofit delivering housing, healthcare, and social services for homeless and low-income New Yorkers. It is geographically and functionally comparable to Housing Works across housing placement, supportive services, and HIV-affected populations.
• Village Care: Village Care is an NYC nonprofit providing HIV/AIDS care, senior services, and supportive housing. It directly competes with Housing Works in HIV-affected housing and aging-in-place services for people living with HIV.
• Amida Care: Amida Care is a NYC Medicaid Special Needs Health Plan exclusively serving people living with HIV/AIDS and eligible populations including homeless individuals and people of transgender experience. It is a payer-level peer collaborating with Housing Works' FQHCs on member care.
• Ali Forney Center: Ali Forney Center is NYC's largest agency dedicated to LGBTQ+ homeless youth, providing housing, drop-in services, and case management. It shares Housing Works' LGBTQ+ youth focus and short-term/transitional housing model.
• BOOM!Health: BOOM!Health is a Bronx-based nonprofit providing harm reduction, syringe exchange, and supportive services for people who use drugs and people living with HIV/AIDS. It is functionally comparable to Housing Works' harm reduction and HIV services footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Sun River Health: Sun River Health is a large multi-site FQHC network across the Hudson Valley and NYC providing primary care, behavioral health, and supportive services. It is a broader-scale FQHC incumbent that competes for some of the same patient populations and grant funding as Housing Works Community Healthcare.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/housingworks
• Instagraminstagram.com/housingworks
• Xx.com/housingworks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/housing-works

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Works