Homeward Bound of Marin
Homeward Bound of Marin is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing emergency shelter, supportive housing, and culinary job training to approximately 1,000 individuals and families experiencing homelessness annually across Marin County, California, through 17 programs operated from multiple facilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersNovato, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Homeward Bound of Marin does
Homeward Bound of Marin is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1974 (incorporated under its current name in 1996) that operates as the primary provider of homeless shelters and supportive housing services in Marin County, California. The organization runs 17 programs serving approximately 1,000 individuals and families annually, including emergency shelters (New Beginnings Center with 80 beds, Jonathan's Place with 38-40 beds, Family Center serving nine families, Voyager Carmel Center), permanent supportive housing across 10+ sites (Oma Village, La Casa Buena, King Street Senior Housing, Warner Creek, Sweeney Place, Puett Place, Next Key Apartments, Fourth Street Center, Fireside Apartments), and specialized services for veterans (HUD-VASH coordination, Puett Place), seniors, and families with children. The organization segments its work across core service delivery, job training, and social enterprise, with revenue sourced from individual/corporate donations, government contracts and grants (HUD, CalAIM/Medi-Cal, county), planned giving, and earned revenue from mission-driven businesses.
The organization's core product surface comprises three integrated pillars: shelter and housing programs (free to residents, billed via contracts and donations), the Fresh Starts Culinary Academy (an 11-week tuition-free job-training program valued at $5,000 with American Culinary Federation approval and over 1,000 graduates since 2003), and a portfolio of social enterprises (Wagster Treats dog biscuits distributed in 65 pet retail locations and online, The Key Room event venue, HALO Products gourmet foods, Fresh Starts Chef Events) whose profits are reinvested in the mission. Pricing is not transactional for shelter and housing services—donations are framed at $62/night, $434/week, and $1,860/month of services—with supportive housing residents paying affordable rents on a monthly subscription basis. The technology stack is minimal: standard website CMS, donation processing, FreeWill planned-giving platform, and basic e-commerce. The recent $38 million Hamilton campus completion (2025) added 50 housing units and a training center, while a new $15 million senior housing project at 77 Locust Ave. has been acquired for 2028 construction start.
The organization serves Marin County exclusively and operates within the county's Coordinated Entry System for housing referrals. Its customer base is the homeless population of Marin County—segmented into families with children (15% of residents), single adults experiencing chronic homelessness (27% aged 62+), veterans, and seniors—while its funder base spans 20+ corporate sponsors, foundations (including a $2.5M Bezos Day One Fund grant), and government agencies. Distribution is direct-to-client through physical facilities, with earned revenue channels extending via Wagster's national online shipping and regional pet retail partnerships, and The Key Room's regional corporate event clientele.
Homeward Bound of Marin firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Homeward Bound of Marin
- Legal name
- Homeward Bound of Marin
- Website
- https://hbofm.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Homeward Bound of Marin is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing emergency shelter, supportive housing, and culinary job training to approximately 1,000 individuals and families experiencing homelessness annually across Marin County, California, through 17 programs operated from multiple facilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Homeward Bound of Marin industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Homeless Services and Supportive Housing
- NAICS
- Temporary Shelters (624221), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)
Keywords
Where Homeward Bound of Marin is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Novato
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices14 records
Markets served
Homeward Bound of Marin business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Individual and Corporate Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Donations support shelter operations, housing programs, and training services.
- Social Enterprise Revenue: Revenue from Fresh Starts Culinary Academy meal services, The Key Room event venue rentals, Wagster Dog Treats bakery sales, and HALO Products. Profits are reinvested into shelter, housing, and job-training programs.
- Government Contracts and Grants: Funding from federal, state, and local government sources including HUD-VASH veteran housing vouchers, Continuum of Care program partnerships, and grants from agencies like the Bezos Day One Fund and CA RISE initiative.
- Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Bequests, retirement asset designations, real estate gifts, and other planned giving vehicles that provide future funding for the organization's mission.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Donation/ grant-funded | One-time or recurring | Donation levels based on impact: $62/night, $434/week, $1,860/month of shelter services |
| Freemium | One time | Fresh Starts Culinary Academy - 11-week tuition-free program valued at $5,000 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Supportive housing - affordable rents for permanent supportive housing programs |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels9 records
Marketing channels11 records
Homeward Bound of Marin product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Homeward Bound of Marin operates emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, and job-training programs for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Marin County, California. The organization runs Fresh Starts Culinary Academy and social enterprises including Wagster Dog Treats, The Key Room event venue, Fresh Starts Chef Events, HALO Products, and Community Teaching Kitchen to generate revenue and provide employment pathways for program graduates.
Product overview
Homeward Bound of Marin operates as a unified nonprofit service organization providing homeless shelters, supportive housing, and job training programs rather than a software product. The core offerings consist of shelter programs for adults, families, and veterans; supportive housing with 11+ housing sites across Marin County; Fresh Starts Culinary Academy job training program; and social enterprise businesses (Wagster Treats, The Key Room event venue, Fresh Starts Chef Events, HALO Products, Community Teaching Kitchen). The organization serves approximately 1,000 people per year through 17 programs, welcoming those experiencing chronic homelessness to provide safe accommodation, compassionate support, and employment training.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Fresh Starts Culinary Academy: Flagship job-training program offering 11 weeks of hands-on culinary training with job placement support
- Wagster Treats
- The Key Room
- Fresh Starts Chef Events
- HALO Products
- Gilardi Training & Events Center
- Community Teaching Kitchen
Products and services
- Fresh Starts Culinary Academy Flagship 11-week culinary job-training program offering hands-on learning and classroom instruction for low-income adults. Trainees receive job placement support, Food Handler and ServSafe Manager certification. The program is approved by the American Culinary Federation and is tuition-free for eligible students, with a $1,000 bonus upon completion.
- Wagster Treats
Quantifiable outcome
- 89% of families leaving programs moved to stable housing (2024-2025)
- +10 more outcomes
Companies that use Homeward Bound of Marin
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Homeward Bound of Marin technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Homeward Bound of Marin partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.
- Eden HousingcoreProperty manager partnership for Fireside Apartments and Warner Creek Senior Housing; provides support services coordination for low-income housing residents
- U.S. Department of Veterans AffairscoreHUD-VASH voucher program partnership providing housing vouchers for veterans; VA representative on-site at New Beginnings Center; collaboration on veteran services
- Terner Center at U.C. BerkeleymoderateResearch partnership producing case studies on health integration through CalAIM initiative; provides evidence base for program effectiveness
- Catalyst KitchenscoreNational affiliate group for culinary training organizations; board membership; program model sharing and peer network; 105 member organizations
- Community Action MarincorePartnership for Transition Age Youth (TAY) housing services; outreach services for young adults experiencing homelessness; coordinated programming
- Integrated Community Services (GEM)moderateGEM garden training program for adults with developmental disabilities; participants work in shelter gardens 5 days/week; produce used in shelter meals
- DrawbridgemoderateArts program for children in shelter and housing programs; weekly art sessions at Oma Village; trauma-informed practices training; serves 15 North Bay sites
- Botnia SkincareminorSausalito company purchasing botanicals harvested from shelter gardens for skincare products; supports garden program sustainability
- Jacques Pépin FoundationmoderateFoundation supporting culinary training accessibility; funds Fresh Starts Academy; chef demonstrations and events
- VivalonminorHealthy Aging Center partner for senior housing development at Locust Ave.; nearby services for older adults
- FreeWillmoderateOnline platform partner for legacy giving; provides free will-writing tools for donors; streamlines planned giving process
- Bloom MarinminorClothing donation partner accepting wardrobe donations for shelter residents; referred by social service agencies
- GoodwillminorClothing donation partner accepting wardrobe donations for shelter residents
- Make It HomeminorFurniture donation partner providing household items for families transitioning from programs to permanent housing
- Welcoming HomeminorFurniture donation partner serving people transitioning into housing around Marin
- CARS (Charitable Adult Rides)minorVehicle donation partner handling car, truck, boat, RV donations; processes vehicle pickup, sale, and tax receipt issuance
Scale indicators21 records
Recent moves20 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Homeward Bound of Marin competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hamilton Families: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing for families experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable to Homeward Bound of Marin's integrated shelter-to-housing model, though operating in a different Bay Area county.
- Larkin Street Youth Services: San Francisco nonprofit serving homeless and at-risk youth and young adults with housing, education, employment training, and health services. Comparable to Homeward Bound's Transition Age Youth (TAY) program and integrated housing-plus-services approach for vulnerable populations.
- Compass Family Services: San Francisco nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and family-centered support services for homeless families. Closely aligned with Homeward Bound's family shelter, case management, and housing placement programming.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin: Marin County nonprofit providing food, housing, and supportive services to people experiencing poverty and homelessness. Closely comparable as a co-located peer addressing similar housing and food insecurity needs through a community-based model.
- Catholic Charities of Marin: Marin County social services provider operating under Catholic Charities umbrella with housing, food, and family support programs. Direct competitor and partner in the same county, providing comparable emergency assistance and case management services.
- Glide Foundation: San Francisco nonprofit providing comprehensive services including housing, meals, case management, and workforce development for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Comparable in the integrated service model (meals + housing + job training) and social enterprise approach.
- PATH (People Assisting the Homeless): Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness across Southern California. Comparable as a regional homeless services organization operating interim housing, permanent supportive housing, and employment programs with measurable outcomes.
- Abode Services: Bay Area nonprofit operating housing and supportive services across multiple counties with a focus on chronically homeless individuals. Comparable to Homeward Bound of Marin in delivering permanent supportive housing with on-site services, particularly for the chronically homeless adult population.
Broad incumbents
- Eden Housing: Regional Bay Area nonprofit affordable housing developer and property manager that is both a peer (operating low-income and senior housing) and an active partner of Homeward Bound of Marin at Fireside Apartments and Warner Creek Senior Housing.
Others
- Catalyst Kitchens: National network of 105 culinary training social enterprises of which Fresh Starts Culinary Academy is a Model Member. Not a direct competitor but a peer-network organization providing industry standards, peer learning, and accreditation relevant to Homeward Bound's job training program.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Homeward Bound of Marin social profiles
Digital presenceHomeward Bound of Marin compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Homeward Bound of Marin financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Homeward Bound of Marin leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Homeward Bound of Marin funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Homeward Bound of Marin M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Homeward Bound of Marin
What does Homeward Bound of Marin do?
Homeward Bound of Marin operates emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, and job-training programs for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Marin County, California. The organization runs Fresh Starts Culinary Academy and social enterprises including Wagster Dog Treats, The Key Room event venue, Fresh Starts Chef Events, HALO Products, and Community Teaching Kitchen to generate revenue and provide employment pathways for program graduates.
Is Homeward Bound of Marin a public or private company?
Homeward Bound of Marin is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Homeward Bound of Marin founded?
Homeward Bound of Marin was founded in 1974. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Homeward Bound of Marin based?
Homeward Bound of Marin is headquartered in Novato, United States, in the North America region.
How does Homeward Bound of Marin make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual and Corporate Donations are the primary driver. The others are social Enterprise Revenue, government Contracts and Grants and planned Giving and Legacy Gifts.
Who are Homeward Bound of Marin's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hamilton Families, Larkin Street Youth Services, Compass Family Services, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin, Catholic Charities of Marin, Glide Foundation, PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) and Abode Services. Eden Housing is listed as a broad incumbent. Catalyst Kitchens is listed as an others.
Does Homeward Bound of Marin have an API?
No public API is recorded for Homeward Bound of Marin.
What industry is Homeward Bound of Marin in?
Homeward Bound of Marin's product category is Homeless Services and Supportive Housing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIANAC, Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services, with a secondary code of BPAIACAK, Local Public Health & Human Services Administration. Its NAICS code is 624221 and its SIC code is 8300.