Shelters to Shutters

What Shelters to Shutters does

Entryway, formerly Shelters to Shutters, is a U.S. 501(c)-style nonprofit workforce development organization founded in 2014 by Chris Finlay of Middleburg Communities and headquartered in Vienna, Virginia. The organization addresses the chicken-and-egg problem of homelessness and unemployment by providing career training, employment placement, and housing support to individuals experiencing homelessness through structured partnerships with multifamily real estate property owners and operators. Its core offering comprises two integrated products: the Workforce Development Training Program, which builds job-readiness skills, and the Employment and Housing Program, which places graduates in entry-level roles (leasing, maintenance, operations) at partner apartment communities and assists with stable housing. The program reports 143 cumulative placements across 40 partner companies, 87% retention, 93% non-return-to-homelessness, an average 248% wage increase to $19.55/hour, and an average tenure of 13.1 months in placed positions.

Distribution is B2B-direct, operating through city advisory boards that mobilize local multifamily owners and operators across 12 U.S. cities (Arizona, Atlanta, Central Florida, Central Texas, Columbus, Denver, Houston, Nashville, North Carolina, North Texas, and South Carolina). Participant entry occurs through a website application portal and referrals from social service agencies. The economic model is grant- and donation-funded rather than revenue-generating; documented funding includes a $300,000 grant from the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (December 2022) and corporate sponsorships from CORT, Huntington Bank, Journal Capital, OneApp Rentals, and Walker Dunlop, with no fees charged to participants or partner employers. The organization holds the National Multifamily Housing Council's designated-charity designation, a 2026 Candid Platinum Transparency certification, and a Charity Navigator three-star rating. It rebranded from Shelters to Shutters to Entryway in 2024 and is led by President & CEO David Williams.

Name

Shelters to Shutters

Legal name

Entryway

Website

https://shelterstoshutters.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Entryway (formerly Shelters to Shutters) is a U.S. nonprofit founded in 2014 that provides workforce training, employment placement, and housing support to individuals experiencing homelessness through partnerships with multifamily real estate companies across 12 U.S. cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development / Social Impact Employment Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Workforce development programs
• Multifamily housing employment
• Homelessness employment services
• Social impact staffing
• Housing stability support

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants: The organization receives grants from foundations such as the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation to support career training, employment, and housing programs for individuals facing homelessness.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Donations: The organization generates revenue through corporate sponsorships and individual donations. Sponsors include CORT, DRK Foundation, Huntington Bank, Journal Capital, OneApp, and Walker Dunlop.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shelters to Shutters is a nonprofit workforce development organization that places individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness into employment with multifamily housing operators, while providing wraparound services (training, coaching, and housing stability support) to help participants retain jobs and transition toward self-sufficiency. Its employer partners hire program participants into roles such as leasing, maintenance, and property management, while the organization coordinates ongoing case management.

Product overview

Entryway (formerly Shelters to Shutters) operates a unified workforce training and housing program that provides career training, employment placement, and housing assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness. The program connects participants with entry-level positions in the multifamily real estate industry while simultaneously addressing their housing needs. The core offering consists of two integrated components: the Workforce Development Training Program that builds job readiness skills, and the Employment and Housing Program that places trained individuals in jobs with housing support at partner multifamily properties across multiple U.S. cities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Workforce Placement Program Core program that recruits, screens, and matches program participants with entry-level employment opportunities at partner multifamily housing companies. Aimed at adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness seeking stable income and housing.
• Retention and Coaching Support Ongoing case management, coaching, and wraparound support services provided to participants after placement to improve job retention, address barriers, and stabilize housing.
• Employer Partnership Program Engagement framework for multifamily housing operators that provides a pre-screened candidate pipeline, onboarding support, and partnership reporting to help fill entry-level roles and advance corporate social responsibility / DEI initiatives.
• Housing Stability Support Support component assisting participants with securing and maintaining stable housing, often leveraging ties to multifamily housing employer partners to align employment with housing opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% employee retention rate among placed participants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShelters to Shutters has been named the NMHC's designated charity, providing industry-wide recognition and partnership opportunities within the multifamily housing sector.
• CORT FurnitureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing support for the workforce development and housing program.
• OneApp RentalscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational board member company and event sponsor. CEO Tyrone Poole serves as an Entryway national board member.
• Western Wealth CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultifamily property company participating in Entryway Arizona IMPACT event and program operations.
• Mark-Taylor ResidentialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultifamily property management company participating in Entryway Arizona IMPACT event.
• Asset LivingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProperty management company participating in Entryway Arizona IMPACT event.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chrysalis: Los Angeles-based nonprofit that provides job-readiness training, employment placement, and supportive services to individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, and other barriers. Directly comparable to Entryway's workforce development + housing model.
• The Doe Fund: New York-based nonprofit that provides workforce development, transitional housing, and supportive services to homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals. Closely mirrors Entryway's combined housing-plus-employment model.
• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technology workforce training and employer connections to individuals from underserved communities. Comparable mission and employer-partnership-driven placement model, though focused on tech roles rather than multifamily.
• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit providing young adults from low-income communities with skills training, internships, and corporate employer partnerships. Similar employer-network-driven placement model and outcome-oriented approach to economic mobility.
• Homeward Bound: Nonprofit operating in the San Francisco Bay Area that combines transitional housing with workforce development and job placement for families experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable combined housing + employment model.

Broad incumbents

• Heartland Alliance: Large Chicago-based nonprofit providing housing, healthcare, workforce, and social services to individuals facing poverty and homelessness. Comparable services portfolio, with significantly broader scope and scale than Entryway.
• Corporation for Supportive Housing: National nonprofit focused on advancing supportive housing solutions for vulnerable populations through policy, funding, and program development. Operates adjacent to Entryway's housing-and-stability focus but at a systems/funder level rather than direct placement.
• Goodwill Industries International: Massive national nonprofit network providing workforce training, employment placement, and supportive services to people facing barriers to employment. Highly comparable mission and employer-driven placement model, though much broader in scope and industry mix.

Emerging players

• HomeBase (The Center for Common Concerns): Bay Area nonprofit providing homelessness prevention and housing assistance including shelter diversion, rapid rehousing, and supportive services. Adjacent mission focused on preventing first-time homelessness rather than workforce placement.

Others

• National Skills Coalition: National policy and advocacy organization advancing equitable skills training and workforce development for low-income workers. Thematically related as an ecosystem participant in workforce development policy and funding that affects organizations like Entryway.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/entrywaytalent
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@entrywaytalent
• Facebookfacebook.com/entrywaytalent
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/entrywaytalent
• Instagraminstagram.com/entrywaytalent

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Shelters to Shutters