What People does

People Inc. is a private, nonprofit human services organization founded in 1970 and headquartered in Williamsville, New York, with a regional headquarters in Rochester. It delivers programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), seniors and older adults, the Deaf and hard of hearing community, and low-income individuals and families, primarily across Western New York and the Greater Rochester region. Core offerings include day services, community-based and family support, residential services in 155 group homes, respite care (including the region's only certified 24/7 IDD respite house at Acacia), vocational and employment services, rehabilitative therapy (physical, occupational, speech) serving approximately 4,700 people across 12 locations, home health care, deaf access/ASL interpreting, and senior programming.

The underlying technology stack is operational rather than product-centric: assistive devices such as the Obi adaptive feeding robot, Pacer and E-Pacer gait trainers, and LifeVac anti-choking units are deployed in service delivery, while back-office systems include Allscripts Professional Suite (clinical/EHR), eVero (IDD service documentation), Ultipro/PeopleDirect (HR/payroll), Peerplace, and Everbridge (emergency management). People Inc. also operates 39 affordable housing properties with 1,500+ units across Western New York, including the recently opened $27 million Mt. Olive Senior Manor, and is redeveloping a portion of the former DeGraff Memorial Hospital.

The business model is a Medicaid/waiver-funded managed-services platform. The dominant revenue stream is New York State OPWDD Home and Community-Based Services waivers and Medicaid contracts, supplemented by affordable housing rental income, philanthropic donations and foundation grants (most notably a $5 million, five-year commitment from Tom Golisano in 2025), corporate and individual giving, and targeted program grants such as a $225,000 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield grant for the Meals Matter training kitchen. Pricing is set by NY State for waiver-funded services (no fee for eligible individuals) and by HUD income guidelines for affordable housing. Distribution is direct through 200+ service sites, OPWDD's single-point-of-entry referral system, and supported-employment partnerships with regional employers including Wegmans, Target, Hampton Inn, Dash's Market, and Savers. The organization is accredited by The Council on Quality and Leadership and is led by President and CEO Anne McCaffrey with a C-suite including CFO Kris Trent and CPO Maralyn Militello.

Name

People

Legal name

People Inc.

Website

https://people-inc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

People Inc. is a Western New York nonprofit providing IDD programs, rehabilitative and senior services, Deaf access interpreting, and affordable housing across 200+ sites, funded primarily through New York State OPWDD Medicaid waivers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Services for Individuals with Disabilities

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ), Adult Day Rehabilitation & Therapy Programs (PT/OT/SLP) (HLADAIAD), Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Schools & Life Skills Programs (EDAKAAAD), Independent Living with Supportive Services (Light ADL/IADL Support) (HLADAAAE), Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Affordable housing units
• Rehabilitative therapy services
• Senior care programs
• Deaf access interpreting

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Medicaid/OPWDD Waivers: Primary revenue from New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Medicaid waivers and government contracts for services provided to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
2. Foundation and Grant Funding: Revenue from private foundations including People Inc. Foundation, Golisano Foundation, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield grants, Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, and government grants
3. Affordable Housing Operations: Rental income from 39 affordable housing properties with 1,500+ units across Western New York
4. Philanthropic Donations: Donations from individuals, corporations, and community supporters through events like golf tournaments and annual giving campaigns

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

People Inc. is a nonprofit human services organization that delivers programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including day services, residential group homes, respite, vocational and employment support, and community habilitation. It also operates health services (Deaf Access/ASL interpreting, home health, rehabilitative therapy), senior programs, and a portfolio of 30+ affordable housing properties with 1,500+ units across Western New York and the Greater Rochester Region.

Product overview

People Inc. is a not-for-profit healthcare and human services organization providing a diverse array of support programs and services. The organization operates as a unified platform of interconnected services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. Core offerings include IDD programs (day services, residential, respite, vocational), health services (rehabilitative therapy, home health), senior programs, and affordable housing. Key programs include Community Habilitation, Day Habilitation Without Walls, Self-Direction, the YALT transition program, Rehabilitative Health Services, and the ArtsWork creative arts initiative. The organization manages over 30 affordable housing properties with 1,500 units across Western New York and operates from multiple locations in Williamsville, Rochester, Amherst, Depew, and Buffalo.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ArtsWork: An inclusive arts initiative that provides opportunities for creative expression through painting, drawing, pottery, photography, music therapy, creative writing, theater production, dance, and horticulture for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Community Habilitation
• Day Habilitation Without Walls
• Young Adult Life Transitions (YALT)
• Deaf Access Services
• Meals Matter

Products and services

• Programs & Services for Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Comprehensive support services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including admission/referral, advocacy, day services, community-based and family support, residences, respite, and vocational/employment services. Delivered across 200+ sites in Western New York and Greater Rochester.
• Health Services Health care services for people with IDD and the broader community, including Deaf Access Services, health-related services, home health care, and rehabilitative services and social work.
• Seniors & Older Adults Programs Programs and services designed for seniors and older adults, including senior day programs and case management, delivered alongside the affordable senior housing portfolio.
• Affordable Housing Affordable apartment and senior living housing options across Western New York, with over 30 properties and 1,500+ units, including accessible and supported housing units for people with disabilities and income-eligible seniors.
• Respite Services Temporary relief for caregivers including overnight, afternoon, in-home, and weekend respite for people with IDD. The renovated Acacia Respite House is a 12-bed certified program operating 24/7.
• Community Habilitation One-on-one skill development service helping individuals build independence at home and in the community through cooking, money management, communication, and health and wellness training.
• Day Habilitation Without Walls Structured community-based experiences in group settings focusing on socialization, volunteering, recreation, fitness, and community participation for people with IDD.
• Self-Direction Flexible service model in which individuals control their service budget, select and hire their own support staff, and design services around their personal vision for independence.
• Young Adult Life Transitions (YALT) Program Transition program for people with developmental disabilities moving from high school to adult life, offering college campus experience, internships, and volunteering opportunities such as the Blue Ink Butterfly percussion group.
• Rehabilitative Health Services Physical, occupational, and speech therapy services provided at a state-of-the-art clinic in Buffalo and 11 other locations, serving approximately 4,700 people with IDD using assistive devices such as the Obi feeding robot, Pacer Gait Trainer, E-Pacer lifts, and LifeVac.
• ArtsWork Program Inclusive arts initiative offering painting, drawing, pottery, photography, music therapy, creative writing, theater production, dance, and horticulture for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Deaf Access Services ASL interpreting and translation services enabling communication access for Deaf and hard of hearing communities and ADA-compliant access for businesses and providers.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Habitat for HumanityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 December 2025People Inc. partnered with Niagara Area Habitat for Humanity to build an accessible, single-family home in Youngstown, NY. This innovative collaboration addresses critical need for affordable, accessible home ownership in Western New York.
• Mt. Olive Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2025Co-developed $27 million Mt. Olive Senior Manor, a 65-unit affordable senior housing development on Sheridan Avenue in Buffalo. People Inc. serves as development partner following extensive RFP process.
• Silvestri Architects, PCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm partner for Mt. Olive Senior Manor development project
• Creative Structures Services, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for Mt. Olive Senior Manor development
• Headway of WNYminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated organization - support and advocacy agency for persons with brain injuries, serving as Regional Resource Center/Single Point of Entry
• People First MobilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated organization - Western New York's premier provider of mobility, seating and home medical equipment
• Virtual Medical Care P.C.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated organization supporting physician practices and I/DD providers with care coordination
• University at Buffalo - Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care (ITTIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with UB ITTIC for Solution-Focused Trauma-Informed Care training program for DSPs; Susan Green LCSW and Denise Krause LCSW leading training sessions

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• YAI / National Institute for People with Disabilities: Large New York-based nonprofit providing intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) services including residential, day, employment, and clinical programs. Operates a comparable integrated IDD platform funded primarily by NY State OPWDD/Medicaid waivers, making it the closest direct comp to People Inc.
• ADAPT Community Network (formerly AHRC NYC): NYC-based nonprofit delivering residential, day, vocational, and clinical services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Same OPWDD/Medicaid funding model, similar integrated service platform, and comparable population served.
• Penn-Mar Human Services: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit providing residential, day, vocational, and clinical services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Operates a comparable integrated service platform with government/Medicaid funding as primary revenue.
• Lifespire: New York-based nonprofit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential, day, employment, and self-direction services. Direct comparable on funding model (NY OPWDD) and integrated program mix.
• Bayada Home Health Care: Large national home health and assistive care provider operating in New York. Overlapping service lines with People Inc.'s Home Health Care and Rehabilitative Health Services divisions, particularly for adults with disabilities.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of the United States: National federation of state and local chapters providing IDD services, advocacy, and supported employment. The Arc is the largest national umbrella for IDD services and a broad incumbent comparable to People Inc.'s mission and service mix.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability and behavioral health services including adult day, employment, housing, and rehabilitative therapies. Operates a similarly diversified disability services platform with significant real estate and clinical infrastructure.
• Sevita Health (formerly MENTOR Network): Large for-profit national provider of home and community-based services for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, autism, and aging adults. Operates group homes, day programs, and supported employment — a for-profit benchmark for the IDD services model People Inc. runs non-profit.
• BrightSpring Health Services: Diversified home and community-based health services platform serving complex populations including IDD, behavioral health, and seniors. Comparable operating breadth across home health, day services, and residential programs.
• Volunteers of America: National nonprofit delivering human services including housing, disability services, senior services, and behavioral health. Operates a similarly broad regional/local services platform including affordable housing and disability programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/peopleincnews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PeopleIncWNY
• Facebookfacebook.com/peopleinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/people-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/peopleincwny

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 People