Bridges to Housing Stability

What Bridges to Housing Stability does

Bridges to Housing Stability is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 1990 and headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, that operates the largest dedicated portfolio of affordable and supportive housing services for at-risk residents of Howard County, Maryland. The organization delivers its services through eight core programs spanning owned and operated affordable rental housing (Bridges Alliance, 61 units), income-based rentals for very low-income families (Help End Homelessness Howard County, acquired in May 2022), transitional housing for domestic violence and human trafficking survivors (Serenity House) and for returning citizens (Guilford House, a four-bed partnership with the Howard County Department of Corrections), rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing with intensive case management, a landlord-engagement program (Housing Connections), a recently launched family-housing program tied to Howard County Public Schools (Family Home Start, 2024), and a home-share matching platform launched in 2025 (HoCo Home Share).

The HoCo Home Share program uses the only documented piece of proprietary technology in Bridges' stack: an automated matching system that compares participant preferences and profiles, surfaces high-fit homeowner-home seeker pairs, and routes them to staff for review before mutual introduction. Bridges' revenue model is multi-stream: Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services contracts, Federal HOME funds via the Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development, voucher allocations from the Howard County Housing Commission, foundation grants (United Way of Central Maryland, Community Foundation of Howard County, The Horizon Foundation), corporate and individual donations, and rental income from owned units. Go-to-market is community-led via the Howard County Coordinated Entry System, where the Grassroots Crisis Hotline performs intake assessments and refers clients into Bridges programs.

The organization operates with a senior staff of six (Executive Director Jessamine Duvall, Director of Homeless Services, Director of Operations, Affordable Housing Program Manager, Donor Relations and Fundraising Manager, and HR-Office Manager), is governed by a board including leaders from Crawford Advisors, Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners, Zurich North America, Howard Hughes, Enterprise Community Investment, and Humphrey Management, and maintains 35-year relationships with 70+ community partners including Howard County agencies, schools, faith congregations, and corporations. Reported outcomes include 96% of Alliance households remaining stably housed 18 months post-enrollment, 64% of households making progress on housing stability goals in the past year, and 53% of Alliance households increasing income year-over-year.

Name

Bridges to Housing Stability

Legal name

Bridges to Housing Stability

Website

https://bridges2hs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bridges to Housing Stability is a 35-year-old Howard County, Maryland 501(c)(3) nonprofit that owns or operates 61 affordable rental homes and delivers eight housing programs — including rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, and a 2025-launched home-share matching platform — to homeless, at-risk, and very low-income residents earning below 80% of area median income.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing and Homeless Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Affordable rental housing
• Homeless services
• Rental assistance programs
• Transitional housing
• Home sharing matching

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Primary funding from Howard County Department of Community Resources & Services, Federal HOME funds, and other government sources for housing programs including Rapid Rehousing, Housing Stability Subsidy Program, and Permanent Supportive Housing.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from private foundations including United Way of Central Maryland, Community Foundation of Howard County, The Horizon Foundation, and others.
3. Individual and Corporate Donations: Donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations in Howard County to support housing programs and operations.
4. Rental Income: Affordable rental income from 61 rental homes in the Bridges Alliance program and other properties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bridges to Housing Stability provides affordable rental housing, transitional housing, and supportive housing services to Howard County, Maryland residents experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Its portfolio includes Bridges Alliance (61 owned/operated below-market rental homes for 30-60% AMI households), Help End Homelessness Howard County (income-based rentals below 30% AMI), transitional housing through Serenity House and Guilford House, housing stability programs (Rapid Rehousing, Housing Stability Subsidy, Housing Connections, Family Home Start), and the HoCo Home Share automated matching service connecting homeowners with housing seekers.

Product overview

Bridges to Housing Stability is a nonprofit housing services organization offering a portfolio of housing programs and supportive services. The core offerings include affordable rental housing through Bridges Alliance (61 owned/operated units), income-based rentals through Help End Homelessness Howard County, and transitional housing via Serenity House (domestic violence survivors) and Guilford House (returning citizens). Support programs include Rapid Rehousing, Housing Stability Subsidy Program, Housing Connections, and the newly launched Family Home Start (2024) for families with school children. The 2025 HoCo Home Share program uses an automated matching platform to connect homeowners with housing seekers. Programs are funded by Federal and County grants, corporate donations, and private foundation grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HoCo Home Share: A home-sharing program that connects homeowners with spare rooms to local residents seeking housing, expanding Howard County's housing options at below-market rates.
• Bridges Alliance
• Help End Homelessness Howard County (HEHHC)
• Serenity House
• Guilford House
• Family Home Start
• Housing Stability Subsidy Program

Products and services

• Bridges Alliance Affordable rental housing program providing below-market rental homes (61 owned/operated units) to individuals and families earning 30-60% of Howard County median income, combined with a Circle of Support program offering financial literacy, budgeting, credit building, and rent reporting to credit bureaus.
• Help End Homelessness Howard County (HEHHC) Income-based rental homes program charging tenants no more than 30% of their income for rent and utilities, serving families earning below 30% of Howard County median income. Properties acquired from Help End Homelessness Howard County organization in May 2022.
• Serenity House Transitional home purchased with Federal HOME funds providing safe, affordable housing for survivors of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence escaping violent situations, along with case management.
• Guilford House Transitional home operated in partnership with Howard County Department of Corrections for formerly incarcerated men. Residents can stay up to one year, must find employment, pay half of earnings into escrow, and are overseen by a live-in house manager.
• Rapid Rehousing Intensive case management program providing life skills training, budgeting, employment support, tenant/landlord mediation, and referrals to clients identified as street homeless through the Howard County Coordinated Entry System.
• Housing Stability Subsidy Program Permanent supportive housing program providing ongoing housing subsidies and case management to chronically homeless Howard County residents with disabilities who have exhausted other homeless services.
• Housing Connections Program connecting private landlords with individuals and families experiencing housing barriers, serving approximately 40 households per year with case management to ensure housing stability throughout lease terms.
• Family Home Start Housing assistance program providing security deposit guarantees, first month's rent, housing search resources, and short-term case management to homeless families with children enrolled in Howard County public schools.
• HoCo Home Share Home sharing program connecting Howard County homeowners with extra rooms to local residents seeking housing, using an automated matching system to identify compatible participants and guiding both parties through introductions, home-sharing agreements, and the leasing process. Free for both homeowners and home seekers thanks to grant funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of households remain stably housed after 18 months in Bridges Alliance program
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Howard County Department of Community Resources and ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder of Housing Stability Program and other Bridges initiatives. Provides ongoing funding and collaborative support for homelessness prevention and affordable housing programs in Howard County.
• Howard County Department of CorrectionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to operate Guilford House, a 4-bed transitional home for returning citizens. DOC provides live-in house manager; Bridges provides housing and case management.
• Howard County Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Federal HOME funds and grant funding for affordable housing programs including Serenity House purchase and HoCo Home Share program.
• Howard County Housing CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 9 housing vouchers for disabled, low-income individuals and families to expand Permanent Supportive Housing capacity by 14 households.
• Howard County Coordinated System of Homeless ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBridges is a partner in the county's coordinated entry system that assesses and refers homeless individuals and families to appropriate housing programs.
• Grassroots Crisis Intervention CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary intake point for homeless services; provides housing assessments, crisis intervention, and referrals to Bridges programs. Also operates emergency shelter.
• Howard County Public School SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral source for Family Home Start program; school counselors and Pupil Personnel Workers identify and refer families experiencing homelessness with children in schools.
• Enterprise Community PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit focused on affordable housing; partner in community development efforts.
• Credit Builders AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides funding for Bridges Alliance Rent Reporting program that allows tenants to report positive rent payments to credit bureaus, building credit for low-income residents.
• Mediation and Conflict Resolution CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides trained facilitators to guide home-sharing introductions and help resolve any areas of difference during the matching process.
• HopeWorks Howard CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty agency providing counseling, shelter, and legal assistance for people affected by domestic violence; refers clients to Bridges for housing.
• Community Action Council of Howard CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides housing assistance, eviction prevention, energy assistance, and other services to county residents; refers clients and collaborates on assistance.
• FISH of Howard CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides eviction prevention, food, financial assistance, and referral information to county residents with emergency needs.
• 20+ Faith Community PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCongregations including Bridgeway Community Church, Christ Episcopal Church, Glen Mar United Methodist Church, and others providing volunteer and financial support.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Housing: National nonprofit affordable housing developer and operator serving low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Comparable as a nonprofit that owns/operates affordable rental housing and provides supportive services, though at a national scale.
• National Alliance to End Homelessness: National policy and advocacy organization working to end homelessness. Comparable as an advocacy partner and the source of best-practice frameworks that Bridges aligns with for its programs.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit focused on affordable housing development and community development finance. Comparable as a strategic partner and provider of affordable housing funding/expertise; operates at a much larger national scale than Bridges.

Emerging players

• Volunteers of America Chesapeake: Regional nonprofit providing housing, behavioral health, and human services across Maryland and the mid-Atlantic. Comparable as a nonprofit operator of affordable housing, transitional housing, and supportive services for vulnerable populations.

Regional players

• Howard County Housing Commission: Public housing agency administering housing vouchers and affordable housing programs for Howard County. Comparable as a Howard County affordable housing provider and direct partner (providing 9 vouchers to Bridges' Permanent Supportive Housing).
• FISH of Howard County: Howard County nonprofit providing eviction prevention, food, financial assistance, and referral services. Comparable as a referral partner offering community-based housing and emergency assistance to Howard County residents.

Direct peers

• HopeWorks Howard County: Howard County nonprofit providing counseling, shelter, and legal assistance for people affected by domestic violence. Comparable as a referral partner addressing overlapping client populations (DV survivors) and operating parallel housing and supportive services programs.
• Community Action Council of Howard County: Howard County social services nonprofit providing housing assistance, eviction prevention, energy assistance, and food programs. Comparable as a referral partner and parallel community-based housing/social services provider in the same county.
• Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center: Howard County crisis intervention and emergency shelter provider that serves as the primary intake point for Bridges' homeless services. Directly comparable as a complementary housing/crisis services provider in the same coordinated entry system.
• Habitat for Humanity Howard County: Affordable housing nonprofit serving Howard County that builds and rehabs homes for low-income households. Directly comparable as a community-based affordable housing provider operating in the same geography and serving overlapping low-income populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bridges2hs
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKz0fbimuC3c9lvK6GlECgw
• Facebookfacebook.com/bridges2hs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bridges2hs
• Instagraminstagram.com/bridges2hs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 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 Bridges to Housing Stability