Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance

Name

Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance

Legal name

Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, Inc.

Website

https://cmhaonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homelessness Prevention and Housing Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Homelessness prevention services
• Housing counseling programs
• Emergency shelter services
• Community housing support
• Affordable housing advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Worcester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Federal Funding: CMHA receives significant funding from federal programs including HUD grants (received over $2.6 million from HUD to combat youth homelessness), state funding through EOHLC for shelter programs, and Continuum of Care grants. This represents the primary revenue source for operations.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: Donations from individuals and corporations support homelessness prevention services, emergency resources, and affordable housing programs. The annual WALK for the Homeless raised $80,000 in 2025 and over $2.5 million cumulatively since 1984.
3. United Way and Foundation Funding: Funding from United Way of Central Massachusetts supports the Housing Counseling program and community trainings on tenant rights.
4. Program Fees and Service Charges: Elder Home Repair program charges for materials only with no fee for labor. Donations Clearinghouse offers curbside delivery for Worcester residents for a fee of $60.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance provides homelessness prevention, emergency shelter coordination, housing counseling, rental and mortgage assistance, donated furniture distribution, and elder home repair services across Worcester County. As the designated Continuum of Care convener for the region, CMHA coordinates countywide homeless services through housing counseling intake, RAFT/ERMA application processing, social service agency referrals, and the Donations Clearinghouse, supporting individuals and families from prevention through long-term housing stabilization.

Product overview

CMHA offers a comprehensive portfolio of homelessness prevention and housing stability services organized as distinct programs. The core services include Housing Counseling for eviction prevention, Emergency Shelter for 173 families, and the Continuum of Care coordination. Financial assistance programs include HomeBase Household Assistance and RAFT/ERMA for rental and mortgage support. Direct services encompass the Donations Clearinghouse (furniture assistance), Elder Home Repair & Maintenance, Hope for Housing (interfaith initiative), and Youth Against Homelessness education. Supporting programs include Public Education & Advocacy, the annual WALK for the Homeless fundraiser, Day Resource Center development, and Point in Time Count activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Donations Clearinghouse (DCH): Provides donated furniture and household goods to families and individuals in need, free of charge. Founded in 1985, has assisted more than 12,500 people.
• Elder Home Repair & Maintenance (EHRM)
• Hope for Housing
• Youth Against Homelessness (YAH)
• HomeBase Household Assistance
• Continuum of Care

Products and services

• Housing Counseling Homelessness prevention program providing counseling, education, case management, referrals, and emergency payments for rental and utility arrearages to individuals and families at risk of homelessness.
• Family Shelter, Housing Placement & Stabilization
• HomeBase Household Assistance
• Continuum of Care
• Donations Clearinghouse (DCH)

Quantifiable outcome

• Prevented 1,200 families from becoming homeless in 2023
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center of Central MAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with NeighborWorks provides trainings on landlord rights and responsibilities, complementing CMHA's tenant rights education programs.
• AmazonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon Wishlist for Donations Clearinghouse allowing supporters to purchase needed items directly.
• Hope for Housing Participating CongregationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOver 20 congregations participate in Hope for Housing program, purchasing gift cards from retailers and selling to members. Retailers donate 2-10% of sales to CMHA. Participating churches include All Saints Church, Christ the King Catholic Church, First Baptist Church Worcester, and 17 others.
• Mass General Brigham (UMass Memorial)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner listed on WALK for the Homeless sponsors page; healthcare organization serving Worcester area.
• Massachusetts Coalition for the HomelessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide advocacy organization; CMHA links to their resources and participates in coordinated efforts.
• National Low Income Housing CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational advocacy organization; CMHA references their Out of Reach reports and participates in their advocacy efforts.
• National Alliance to End HomelessnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational advocacy organization providing resources and policy guidance that CMHA utilizes.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless: Statewide advocacy organization focused on homelessness prevention and policy in Massachusetts. CMHA explicitly partners and links to its resources, and the two operate in adjacent parts of the same Continuum of Care ecosystem serving overlapping Central MA populations.
• Heading Home: Massachusetts-based nonprofit working to end homelessness through housing placement, prevention, and advocacy in the Greater Boston area. Operates a structurally similar Continuum of Care coordination model and service portfolio targeting families and individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Pine Street Inn: Largest emergency shelter provider in New England, operating shelter, housing, and workforce programs for homeless individuals in Greater Boston. Highly comparable in service mix (emergency shelter, housing placement, day services) and Continuum of Care leadership role, though at larger scale.
• Catholic Charities Worcester County: Faith-based social services provider serving Worcester County with housing counseling, refugee resettlement, and family support. Operates in the same geographic market with overlapping client populations and similar referral-based service delivery.
• Family Promise: National nonprofit addressing family homelessness through shelter, prevention, and stabilization programs. CMHA's Family Shelter and HomeBase programming directly parallels Family Promise's shelter-plus-prevention model for families with children.
• The Salvation Army Massachusetts: Operates emergency shelters, transitional housing, and social services across Massachusetts including Worcester area. Comparable service delivery to CMHA's emergency shelter and family programming with a faith-based operating model.
• Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging: Area Agency on Aging serving Central MA with elder services including caregiver support and home modification. Functions as a direct funding partner and operational peer for CMHA's Elder Home Repair & Maintenance program serving seniors aging in place.

Broad incumbents

• Worcester Housing Authority: Municipal public housing authority administering subsidized housing and Section 8 vouchers in Worcester. Directly comparable in mission (housing access and stability) but operates as a government entity rather than nonprofit; CMHA's Lynn Millette sits on the Dudley Housing Authority board.
• MassHousing: Massachusetts quasi-public state housing finance agency providing affordable mortgage financing, rental subsidies, and housing development. Comparable mission in housing stability at much larger scale and as a state-level backer of many programs CMHA clients access.

Others

• National Alliance to End Homelessness: National advocacy and policy organization providing research, training, and policy guidance that CMHA explicitly leverages. Functions as a thought leadership and funding ecosystem peer rather than a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cmhaworcester
• Instagraminstagram.com/donations_clearinghouse
• Xx.com/cmhaonline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/central-mass-housing-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance