CAMBA

What CAMBA does

CAMBA is a Brooklyn-headquartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1977 that operates 170+ programs across six interconnected service areas—Housing Stability, Education & Youth Development, Family & Community Support, Health, Economic Development, and Legal Services—at more than 100 locations spanning New York City's five boroughs. The organization served over 72,000 individuals and families in 2024, including more than 11,000 youth, delivering services free of charge. Program outputs in 2024 included 99% housing-retention in Permanent Supportive Housing, 97% eviction-prevention in Anti-Eviction Services, 14,273 legal-services clients, 22,733 education-program participants, and 189,411 clients receiving emergency pantry assistance.

The portfolio spans 12 emergency and supportive shelters (six family, six single-adult), 13 community centers (four Beacon, nine Cornerstone), adult-education and workforce training, refugee resettlement (through USCRI affiliation), and small-business lending via CAMBA Economic Development Corporation, a federally certified CDFI. Signature technology infrastructure is limited but distinctive: the You Can Van is a custom-built mobile outreach vehicle that integrates real-time NYC Department of Homeless Services data with the Arachno mapping platform to triage households at high risk of entering shelter. CAMBA Housing Ventures (CHV), a separate nonprofit affiliate established in 2005, has mobilized more than $1 billion in public and private capital to develop over 3,000 affordable and supportive housing units, giving CAMBA an integrated service-plus-real-estate model that few peers replicate.

Revenue is contract-driven: primary funding flows from NYC Department of Homeless Services, NYC Human Resources Administration, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, and federal refugee programs, supplemented by foundation grants (Robin Hood Foundation, United Health Foundation, Klingenstein, Durst Family Foundation) and individual and corporate donations. CAMBA employs between 1,001 and 5,000 staff and is led by President & CEO Valerie Barton-Richardson (appointed March 2024 after a 30-year tenure) and a board chaired by Richard Roberts.

Name

CAMBA

Legal name

CAMBA, Inc.

Website

https://camba.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

CAMBA is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1977 operating 170+ programs across six service areas at 100+ locations in New York City, serving 72,000+ low-income individuals and families annually through housing, education, family support, health, economic development, and legal services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Social services
• Homelessness prevention
• Affordable housing
• Youth development
• Legal aid services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Grants: Primary funding from NYC, NYS, and federal government agencies including Department of Homeless Services, Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Department of Youth & Community Development, NYC Human Resources Administration, NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, and federal programs like Office of Refugee Resettlement.
2. Private Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from foundations such as Robin Hood Foundation, United Health Foundation, Klingenstein, and others for specific program initiatives and research.
3. Individual and Corporate Donations: Donations from individuals and corporate partners through events like CAMBA Night Out gala and direct contributions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CAMBA delivers free, comprehensive social services to low-income New Yorkers across six interconnected program areas: Housing Stability, Education & Youth Development, Family & Community Support, Health, Economic Development, and Legal Services. The organization operates 170+ programs at 100+ locations citywide, including 12 emergency shelters, 13 community centers, an adult Education Center, and a mobile outreach unit (You Can Van), in addition to an affiliated nonprofit housing developer (CAMBA Housing Ventures).

Product overview

CAMBA is a nonprofit social services organization providing a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected programs across six major service areas: Housing Stability, Education & Youth Development, Family & Community Support, Health, Economic Development, and Legal Services. The organization operates over 180 programs at 100+ locations across New York City, serving over 72,000 individuals and families annually. Key programs include HomeBase homelessness prevention, the You Can Van mobile outreach initiative, Education Center adult education, CAMBA Housing Ventures affordable housing development, Community Centers network, Legal Services providing anti-eviction and immigration assistance, and workforce/economic development programs including small business services and refugee assistance. The programs are designed to complement each other, addressing multiple needs simultaneously for clients facing complex challenges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CAMBA Housing Ventures (CHV): Separate nonprofit affiliate focused on developing and managing affordable, supportive housing developments in New York City. Represents more than one billion dollars in public and private investment with over 3,000 apartments completed, under construction, or in planning stages.

Products and services

• HomeBase Homelessness Prevention Program Homelessness prevention program serving NYC residents at risk of shelter entry with case management, budgeting workshops, employment services, entitlement advocacy, legal mediation, housing resources, and short-term financial assistance. Served 4,925 individuals in 2024.
• You Can Van Mobile Outreach Custom-built recreational vehicle serving as a mobile assessment and outreach center that uses real-time DHS data and Arachno mapping technology to deliver bilingual housing stability services, assessments, and referrals directly to high-need neighborhoods.
• Homeless Shelters (Emergency and Supportive Housing) Network of 12 emergency and supportive housing facilities (six family shelters and six adult shelters) providing case management, housing assistance, creative arts therapy, medical and psychiatric services, and pathways to permanent housing. 349 families were placed into permanent housing in 2024.
• Solutions to End Homelessness (Eviction Prevention) Eviction prevention program helping tenants stabilize housing through rent supplement applications (FEPS and CITYFEPS), benefits advocacy, and navigation assistance in NYC Housing Court, achieving a 97% eviction prevention rate in 2024.
• Permanent Supportive Housing Long-term subsidized housing paired with on-site supportive services for individuals and families who have experienced chronic homelessness, with 4,200 people housed in 2024 and a 99% one-year housing retention rate.
• CAMBA Housing Ventures (CHV) Wholly-owned nonprofit affiliate that plans and develops affordable, sustainable, and energy-efficient supportive housing for low-income and formerly homeless New Yorkers, representing $1 billion+ in public/private investment with 3,000+ apartments since 2005.
• Education Center (Adult Education) Adult education center in Brooklyn's Flatbush/East Flatbush neighborhood offering Adult Basic Education, High School Equivalency Preparation, Computer/Digital Literacy, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education.
• Computer/Digital Literacy Program Digital skills program launched in winter 2025 using NORTHSTAR Digital Literacy curriculum to teach essential computer skills, online safety, and digital communication to low-income adult learners.
• College Bound Program College access program for high school and middle school students integrating best practices from CAMBA's broader youth programs, with alumni engagement to support college persistence and graduation.
• Learning to Work (LTW) Program Re-engagement program helping students who have dropped out of high school or fallen behind in credits to graduate, offered at ten transfer high schools and two Young Adult Borough Centers across NYC.
• Community Centers (Beacon and Cornerstone) Network of 13 community centers (4 Beacon and 9 Cornerstone) providing comprehensive services to over 5,000 children, youth, and adults annually, with community events reaching an additional 12,300 local residents.
• Brownsville In, Violence Out (BIVO) Anti-Violence Program Anti-gun violence initiative operating in the 73rd police precinct of Brownsville, Brooklyn, following the Cure Violence public health model to interrupt violence and provide alternatives for young people.
• Family Solutions (Preventive Foster Care) Preventive foster care program using the Solution Based Casework (SBC) model to help families find practical solutions to challenges and prevent children from entering the foster care system.
• Healthy Families Program Home visiting program helping parents navigate pregnancy and birth, providing child development education and identifying financial, emotional, and family risk factors during prenatal and postnatal periods.
• iCare Program (Reproductive Education) Initiating Change Around Reproductive Education program working with women before, during, and after pregnancy to educate and empower women regarding health care and reproductive decision-making.
• SOAR Career Navigation for Single Parents Single-parents Opportunities And Readiness career navigation program designed for single parents in Brownsville, East New York, Cypress Hills, and Starrett City, providing comprehensive job training and career services funded by NYC CEC.
• CAMBA Small Business Loans Small business lending program through CAMBA Economic Development Corporation (a federally certified CDFI) providing Brooklyn-based entrepreneurs with loans up to $35,000 for inventory, equipment, startup costs, and working capital.
• Entrepreneurial Assistance Center (EAC) Intensive community-based training and technical assistance for small business owners and entrepreneurs, particularly minorities and women, to stimulate new business development and strengthen early-stage businesses.
• Mobilize Your Business (MYB) Technology training program equipping small business owners to use mobile technology for increasing sales, reducing costs, and improving operations, including logo creation, website development, and digital marketing strategy.
• Security Guard Training Academy New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services-licensed certification and training program for entry into the security field, covering customer service, communication, crime prevention, report writing, emergency response, and terrorism awareness.
• Skills Training and Industry Recognized Credentials Free training program providing state and industry-recognized credentials including OSHA 30 Construction, NYC DOB Site Safety Training (10-hour), and HVAC Building Operations Training, with Metro Cards and financial assistance provided.
• Refugee Assistance Program Wrap-around support program for Office of Refugee Resettlement-eligible individuals and families providing case management, employment services, English classes, financial education, health services, and legal services. Served 2,039 refugees and asylees in 2024.
• Matching Grant Early Employment Program Early employment program for Office of Refugee Resettlement-eligible populations providing cash grants as incentive to enter the workforce and avoid public assistance, paired with case management and employment preparation for new arrivals from 50+ countries.
• USARA (Ukrainian Professional Support Program) Program assisting eligible Ukrainians who entered the U.S. with UHP (Uniting for Ukraine) status to overcome employment barriers and return to professional careers through specialized professional development programming.
• Beyond Hunger Emergency Food Pantry Emergency food pantry serving individuals experiencing food insecurity regardless of background, distributing three-day food supplies through a walk-through client-choice system with pre-packaged non-perishable items. Served 189,411 clients and household members in 2024.
• NaviGAYte Brooklyn 2.0 Substance misuse and HIV/hepatitis prevention navigation program serving men who have sex with men and transgender/gender nonconforming individuals of color through in-person and online outreach multi-pronged interventions.
• Opioid Overdose Prevention Program Community training program teaching administration of nasal naloxone (Narcan) and distributing free naloxone kits at health fairs and community events to combat opioid overdoses.
• Ending the Epidemic (ETE) HIV Prevention Program HIV prevention program aligned with the national initiative to reduce new infections by 90% by 2030, connecting diagnosed and undiagnosed HIV-positive Brooklynites to healthcare, medication, and PrEP.
• HealthLink Health Homes Program Care management program focused on improving health outcomes for individuals with HIV/AIDS, serious mental illness, or two or more chronic health conditions through coordinated networks of medical, psychiatric, behavioral health, and social service providers.
• Consumer Law Unit Legal assistance program providing representation in consumer matters including broken lease cases, back rent payments, identity theft, consumer debt issues, debt-collection proceedings, and consumer fraud for low-income New Yorkers.
• Housing Legal Services (Anti-Eviction) Anti-eviction legal services program providing advice and representation in Housing Court non-payment proceedings, holdovers, HP Actions for Repairs, HCR overcharge complaints, administrative hearings, and Article 78 proceedings for low-income NYC tenants.
• Immigration Legal Services Immigration legal services program providing advice, application assistance, and representation for citizenship and naturalization, DACA, family-based petitions, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), VAWA Self-Petitions, and T and U Visas.
• Foreclosure Prevention Program Legal advice, advocacy, and foreclosure prevention services for Brooklyn homeowners in owner-occupied 1-4 family homes at risk of foreclosure, including weekly court-based clinics at Kings County Supreme Court.
• Domestic Violence Services Legal and support services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including a 24/7 hotline, crisis counseling, emergency cash assistance, and referrals, serving approximately 150 New Yorkers annually.
• Victims Assistance Program (VAP) Comprehensive victim assistance program providing advocacy, case management, supportive counseling, criminal justice support, and legal services referrals to victims of violent crime and their families, operated in Brooklyn since 1997.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of clients sustained housing for at least one year through Permanent Supportive Housing Programs in 2024
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• NYC Department of Homeless Services (NYC DHS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2025NYC DHS is expanding its MOMS Partnership program by launching the MOMS Stress Management Course at two CAMBA family shelters in NYC, beginning January 2025. The initiative tests a leaner staffing model and assesses equivalence of the program with and without a Community Mental Health Ambassador co-teaching model, with results expected by summer 2026. CAMBA serves over 73,000 individuals across more than 180 programs.
• Charles B Wang Community Health CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in research and evaluation projects focused on culturally adapted mental health interventions for Chinese immigrant and Spanish-speaking mothers in NYC shelters.
• BronxWorksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in research and evaluation projects focused on mental health interventions for mothers in NYC shelters across five distinct projects.
• United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAMBA is an affiliate of USCRI, providing acculturation education for refugees who come to New York through the U.S. Government's Refugee Program.
• Food Bank of NYCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder and partner for Beyond Hunger Emergency Food Pantry through the Food Bank of NYC Tiered Engagement Network.
• Brooklyn Conservatory of MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Music Therapy program at middle school after-school sites.
• National Book FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for BookUp program providing books to youth participants.
• Fresh Air FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for summer camp programs, conducting registration services for Fresh Air Fund programs.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Henry Street Settlement: Lower East Side-based multiservice nonprofit serving 60,000+ NYC residents annually with programs in housing, education, workforce development, health, and the arts. Directly comparable to CAMBA in scope, NYC-centric footprint, and integrated service model.
• Project Renewal: NYC nonprofit focused on homelessness, health, and workforce programs — operates shelters, supportive housing, and employment services. Directly overlaps CAMBA's housing and economic development programs across the same NYC geography.
• Coalition for the Homeless: NYC advocacy and direct services organization providing shelter operations, homelessness prevention, and housing placement. Comparable scale and NYC-only focus with overlapping HomeBase-style prevention work and family shelter operations.
• Rising Ground (formerly Episcopal Social Services): Large NYC human services nonprofit operating across foster care, juvenile justice, housing, and education programs. Comparable in scale, multi-program structure, and NYC government-contract funding model.
• Grand Street Settlement: Lower East Side-based multiservice settlement house providing education, housing, and senior services. Comparable as a NYC settlement house with housing stability and youth development programs.
• West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing: NYC nonprofit providing supportive housing for low-income seniors and adults. Comparable in NYC scope and supportive housing development arm similar to CAMBA's CHV, though narrower (housing-only).
• BronxWorks: Bronx-based multiservice nonprofit serving 40,000+ residents across housing, workforce, education, and youth programs. Direct peer given CAMBA's stated partnership (mental health research for mothers in shelters) and overlapping program mix.
• The Bridge: NYC behavioral health and homeless services nonprofit operating supportive housing, mental health programs, and shelter services. Comparable in NYC-focused services and government-contract funding model.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries of New York and New Jersey: Large regional workforce development and social services nonprofit. Comparable on workforce development, refugee services, and NYC footprint, though broader in scope and not as housing-focused.

Regional players

• Food Bank for New York City: NYC food assistance nonprofit and stated CAMBA partner (Beyond Hunger pantry operates within Food Bank's Tiered Engagement Network). Comparable as a NYC social services infrastructure provider, though food-focused rather than housing-focused.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cambainc
• Facebookfacebook.com/cambainc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camba
• Instagraminstagram.com/cambainc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 CAMBA