What Comunilife does

Comunilife is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 by Dr. Rosa M. Gil (originally as H.I.R.E. - Homeless and Immigrants Resource Enterprise) to address homelessness, mental illness, and health disparities in Latino and other vulnerable populations. Today, the organization operates an integrated housing and culturally sensitive supportive services platform serving more than 4,000 clients annually through 3,083 units of supportive and affordable housing across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens, plus sites in Poughkeepsie, Yonkers, Amsterdam, and Hempstead. Its core programmatic vehicles are: (1) Life is Precious™, a non-clinical, community-informed suicide prevention program for at-risk Latina teens (750+ teens served to date, listed on the Suicide Prevention Resource Center Best Practices Registry), (2) an 80- to 84-bed Medical Respite Program partnering with hospitals and managed care companies to provide short-term post-acute housing for homeless patients, and (3) a housing continuum spanning Transitional Housing, Permanent Congregate Supportive Housing (574 units), Permanent Scatter Site Housing (1,107 units), and Affordable Housing (790 units), with named residences including El Borinquen, El Rio I/II, Prospect, La Central, Woodhull, Casa Hope, and Brooklyn House.

The business model is a contracted nonprofit revenue stack: primary funding from NYC and NYS government agencies (NYC Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, NYC Department of Homeless Services, NYC Human Resources Administration, and NYS Office of Mental Health) plus income-based rents from affordable housing residents (typically tiered at 40%-60% of Area Median Income, e.g., $843/month at 40% AMI), supplemented by donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations (with 89+ cents of every dollar going to programs). Distribution is community-led, via direct referrals from city agencies, hospitals (NY Presbyterian, Mount Sinai), managed care companies, and community organizations. Leadership transitioned in 2023 from founder Rosa M. Gil, DSW, to Blanca Ramirez as President and CEO, who brings two decades of housing development and financing experience; an 11-person executive team supports a board-chaired governance structure. Strategy direction is anchored by the La Ostra joint venture (announced 2025-12-10 with Slate Property Group and Xenolith Partners) for 600+ affordable units on the Inwood waterfront.

Name

Comunilife

Legal name

Comunilife Inc.

Website

https://comunilife.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Comunilife is a NYC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 3,083 units of supportive and affordable housing plus culturally sensitive programs including the Life is Precious Latina teen suicide prevention program and an 80-bed Medical Respite program, serving more than 4,000 homeless, low-income, and at-risk New Yorkers annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supportive Housing & Social Services

NAICS

Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (6233), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (623), Other Residential Care Facilities (62399)

SIC

Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban High-Rise CCRCs (HLADAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Single-Site CCRCs (HLADAEAE), Multi-Campus / Regional CCRC Networks (HLADAEAF)

Keywords

• Supportive housing services
• Affordable housing programs
• Homeless services nonprofit
• Suicide prevention programs
• Medical respite care

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary funding from city and state government contracts including NYC Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, NYC Department of Homeless Services, and NYS Office of Mental Health.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Financial support from individuals, foundations, and corporations. More than 89 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to programs.
3. Affordable Housing Rent: Rent payments from low-income residents in affordable and supportive housing units.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Comunilife is a New York City-based nonprofit that provides supportive and affordable housing along with culturally sensitive supportive services to vulnerable New Yorkers. The organization operates over 3,000 units of housing across a continuum that includes Transitional Housing, Permanent Congregate Supportive Housing, Permanent Scatter Site Housing, and Affordable Housing, plus specialized programs such as the Life is Precious suicide prevention program for at-risk Latina teens and the Medical Respite Program for homeless hospital patients.

Product overview

Comunilife is a non-profit organization providing housing and culturally sensitive supportive services to vulnerable New Yorkers. The organization operates a portfolio of housing programs totaling over 2,818 units of supportive and affordable housing. Core programs include Life is Precious™ (a suicide prevention program for at-risk Latina teens), the Medical Respite Program (80-bed short-term housing for homeless hospital patients), and a continuum of housing options including Transitional Housing, Permanent Congregate Supportive Housing, Permanent Scatter Site Housing, and Affordable Housing. The organization manages multiple named residences across the Bronx and Brooklyn including El Borinquen, El Rio I/II, Prospect, La Central, Woodhull, Casa Hope, Brooklyn House, and others. Comunilife also operates the Ni Una Más public awareness campaign and COVID-19 response programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Life is Precious™: A suicide prevention program for at-risk Latina teens, providing activities including academic support, expressive arts therapies, health & wellness activities, and family services.

Products and services

• Life is Precious™ A community-informed, non-clinical suicide prevention program for at-risk Latina teens providing academic support, expressive arts therapies, health and wellness activities, and family services. Operates at multiple sites in NYC and upstate New York. Listed on the Suicide Prevention Resource Center Best Practices Registry.
• Medical Respite Program An 80-bed short-term housing program for homeless hospital patients who are medically cleared for discharge but lack stable housing to complete recuperation. Provides medical care coordination and supportive services in partnership with hospitals and managed care companies.
• Transitional Housing Short-term (6-24 months) supportive housing for homeless New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS, mental illness, and other chronic conditions. Provides case management and assistance in securing permanent housing.
• Permanent Congregate Supportive Housing 574 units of permanent congregate supportive housing serving low-income populations with difficulty maintaining stable housing, including residents with histories of homelessness and/or long-term hospitalizations. Operates 3 supportive and 7 mixed population residences.
• Permanent Scatter Site Housing 1,107 units of permanent scatter site housing for New Yorkers, many previously homeless, living with special needs who have developed skills for independent living. Includes case management services across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan.
• Affordable Housing 790 studio and two-bedroom apartments for low-income individuals and families in the Bronx and Brooklyn. Includes 334 standalone units and 256 units co-located with supportive housing. Rents are income-based and calculated as a percentage of Area Median Income (AMI), with units offered at 40% and 60% AMI thresholds.
• COVID-19 Response Program Expanded Medical Respite Program launched during COVID-19 to provide isolation, quarantine, and recovery housing for patients discharged from hospitals. Included partnerships with NY Presbyterian and Mount Sinai to create recovery centers for COVID-19 patients.
• Ni Una Más Campaign Public awareness campaign designed to reduce suicide among Latina adolescents through community outreach and education. Aimed at addressing the mental health crisis among young Latinas in New York.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5% hospital readmission rate within 30 days of Medical Respite transfer
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Slate Property GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2025Selected together with Comunilife by the city to develop the La Ostra project - over 600 affordable housing units on Inwood waterfront in Manhattan, including units for seniors and low-income residents.
• Xenolith PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2025Selected together with Comunilife by the city to develop the La Ostra project - over 600 affordable housing units on Inwood waterfront in Manhattan, including units for seniors and low-income residents.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)strategicGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 October 2025AFSP launched The Upright initiative with virtual programming featuring Comunilife's Life is Precious program alongside Hope Center Harlem and Qungasvik to address mental health disparities among specific communities.
• NY PresbyteriancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2020Partnership to shelter patients recovering from COVID-19. NY Presbyterian worked with Comunilife and Mount Sinai to create recovery centers for COVID-19 patients.
• Mount SinaicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2020Partnership to shelter patients recovering from COVID-19. Mount Sinai worked with Comunilife and NY Presbyterian to create recovery centers for COVID-19 patients.
• Hospitals and Managed Care CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComunilife partners with hospitals and managed care companies to provide Medical Respite services, accepting referrals of homeless patients medically cleared for discharge. The 80-bed program provides short-term housing where patients can complete recovery while accessing medical care and supportive services.
• NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComunilife markets affordable housing units in coordination with NYC HPD. Applications are processed per HPD guidelines on a first-come, first-served basis for properties like El Borinquen Residence.
• NYS Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University - NYS Center of Excellence for Cultural CompetencestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted evaluation research on Life is Precious program comparing suicide ideation and depression levels among LIP participants versus teens receiving only traditional outpatient therapy.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CAMBA: Brooklyn-headquartered nonprofit operating supportive and affordable housing, HIV/AIDS housing, and social services across NYC — overlaps with Comunilife's supportive housing and culturally tailored services for vulnerable populations.
• Breaking Ground: NYC nonprofit (formerly Common Ground) operating the largest supportive housing portfolio in NYC for homeless and at-risk individuals — direct comparable to Comunilife's permanent supportive housing operations.
• Acacia Network: NYC-based Latino-led nonprofit providing housing, health, and social services to low-income and immigrant communities — directly comparable to Comunilife's culturally sensitive Latino-focused model.
• Urban Resource Institute (URI): NYC nonprofit providing supportive housing, domestic violence services, and programs for people with developmental disabilities — overlapping service lines and population with Comunilife.
• The Bridge: NYC nonprofit operating supportive housing, mental health, and substance use treatment programs for vulnerable adults — comparable mission and service mix to Comunilife's mental health and housing continuum.
• Help USA: NYC nonprofit providing supportive housing, shelter, and workforce programs for homeless and low-income families and individuals — comparable operating model to Comunilife's housing continuum.
• Project Renewal: NYC-based nonprofit providing supportive housing, Medical Respite, and workforce services for homeless and low-income New Yorkers — directly comparable to Comunilife's housing + Medical Respite continuum.

Others

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): National nonprofit funder and partner in The Upright initiative alongside Comunilife's Life is Precious program — relevant ecosystem partner rather than a direct operating peer.

Emerging players

• Housing Works: NYC nonprofit combining housing, healthcare, and advocacy for homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS — partial overlap with Comunilife's HIV/AIDS housing legacy programs.

Broad incumbents

• Henry Street Settlement: Long-established NYC social services nonprofit offering housing, education, and workforce programs on the Lower East Side — comparable scale and breadth to Comunilife's integrated services model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/comunilifeinc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=F_JHoh0tp2k
• Facebookfacebook.com/Comunilife
• Instagraminstagram.com/comunilife

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Comunilife