Housing First

What Housing First does

HOPE for All Gulf Coast (formerly Housing First, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, with a secondary administrative office in the same city. Founded in 1992, the organization serves unhoused individuals and families across Mobile and Baldwin counties along the Alabama Gulf Coast. It operates as the lead agency for the AL-501 Continuum of Care, coordinating regional homeless services through a standardized Coordinated Entry intake process and conducting the annual Point-in-Time count required by HUD.

The organization runs a portfolio of grant-funded programs delivering permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, and homeless prevention services. Core programs include the HUD Continuum of Care-funded Supportive Housing Program (SHP), Community Housing Program (CHP) with 65 scattered-site units, Disabled Housing Program (DHP) with 37 scattered-site units, Youth and Family Focus (YFF), and Fresh Start Domestic Violence Program. Additional revenue streams include the VA-funded Supportive Services for Veterans and Families (SSVF) program, the Jeff Bezos Foundation-funded Day One Family Program, and Mobile County HOME ARP funding. The organization does not operate a software product; its technology footprint is limited to a JotForm-based client pre-screening form, PayPal donation processing, and standard office productivity tools. Services are delivered free of charge through direct case management, scattered-site housing, street outreach, and a partner agency network of 8+ organizations.

The business model is grant and donation funded, not revenue-generating, with HUD and VA as primary federal funders supplemented by private philanthropy and individual donations. Marketing and client acquisition occur through community events (annual Miles of Hope 5K and Project Homeless Connect), social media, email newsletters, and a Landlord Partnership Program designed to secure scattered-site housing supply. The organization is CARF accredited and a partnering agency of United Way of Southwest Alabama.

Name

Housing First

Legal name

Housing First, Inc.

Website

https://hfal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Services and Supportive Housing

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Programs (FSALAKAO), Disaster Recovery & Emergency Housing Assistance Programs (FSALAKAK), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

Keywords

• Homeless services
• Supportive housing programs
• Rapid rehousing services
• Veteran housing assistance
• Case management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mobile

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, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and HUD Funding: HOPE receives federal funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care Program, including grants for Supportive Housing Programs (SHP), Community Housing Program (CHP), Disabled Housing Program (DHP), Youth and Family Focus (YFF), Fresh Start Domestic Violence Program, and HOME ARP program. These are grant-funded projects providing scattered-site housing to disabled homeless individuals and families.
2. SSVF (Supportive Services for Veterans and Families) Program: Exclusive program dedicated to veterans and their families facing homelessness or at imminent risk of losing housing, funded through VA Supportive Services for Veterans and Families grants.
3. Private Foundation Grants: The Day One Family Program is funded through a grant from the Jeff Bezos Foundation, providing rental and utility assistance to families with school-aged children.
4. Local Government Funding: The HOME ARP program is funded through Mobile County, providing Rapid Rehousing and Homeless Prevention services to clients homeless outside of Mobile city limits within Mobile County.
5. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and community donations support programs and services. The organization accepts donations via PayPal and has a landlord partnership program where property owners can receive tax benefits and financial incentives.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HOPE for All Gulf Coast (formerly Housing First, Inc.) is a nonprofit social services agency that delivers permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, and homeless prevention programs for unhoused individuals, families, veterans, youth, and domestic violence survivors across Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama. The organization manages scattered-site housing units, intensive case management, community outreach, and a regional Coordinated Entry assessment system, funded primarily through HUD Continuum of Care grants and supplemented by VA, foundation, and local government grants plus individual donations.

Product overview

HOPE for All Gulf Coast (formerly Housing First, Inc.) is a nonprofit social services organization operating a multi-program portfolio to end homelessness in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, Alabama. The organization offers permanent supportive housing programs (SHP, CHP, DHP) providing scattered-site housing to disabled homeless individuals and families, combined with rapid rehousing and homeless prevention programs (YFF, Fresh Start DV, HOME ARP, Day One Family). Core service delivery includes SSVF for veterans, Coordinated Entry for standardized assessment and referral, and Community Outreach for street-level engagement. Annual initiatives include Project Homeless Connect and Miles of Hope 5K. The organization does not operate a software product but delivers human services through case management, rental assistance, and community partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supportive Housing Program (SHP) HUD-funded umbrella program providing scattered-site permanent supportive housing to disabled homeless individuals and families across Mobile and Baldwin Counties, combining rental assistance with intensive case management services.
• Community Housing Program (CHP) HUD-funded permanent supportive housing program providing 65 scattered-site units for chronically homeless disabled individuals, with 10 units prioritized for chronically homeless veterans, emphasizing case management and self-sufficiency.
• Disabled Housing Program (DHP) HUD-funded supportive housing program providing 37 scattered-site units for disabled homeless individuals and families across Mobile and Baldwin Counties, with case management focused on increasing self-sufficiency and achieving independent housing.
• Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Programs Comprehensive programs providing short- to medium-term financial assistance and supportive services to literally homeless and at-risk families in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, including rental assistance, case management, and intensive support for up to 24 months.
• Youth and Family Focus (YFF) HUD-funded rapid rehousing program assisting literally homeless families with children and unaccompanied homeless youth (ages 18-24) to rapidly transition to permanent housing, with rental assistance provided for up to 24 months.
• Fresh Start Domestic Violence Program (FS) HUD-funded rapid rehousing program assisting families with children and individuals fleeing domestic violence to rapidly transition to permanent housing, with rental assistance provided for up to 12 months.
• HOME ARP Program Rapid Rehousing and Homeless Prevention program funded through Mobile County, serving clients homeless outside of Mobile city limits but within Mobile County, combining rental assistance with case management.
• Day One Family Program Program funded by the Jeff Bezos Foundation providing rental and utility assistance to families with school-aged children while adults pursue education and employment training, with the goal of financial independence.
• Supportive Services for Veterans and Families (SSVF) Exclusive program for veterans and their families facing homelessness or at imminent risk of housing loss, providing personalized case management, housing assistance, transportation, and referrals to community services including employment, education, childcare, food assistance, and life skills development.
• Coordinated Entry Standardized assessment and referral process ensuring fair and equal access to limited housing resources for individuals experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk in Mobile and Baldwin counties, linking households with case managers and housing solutions.
• Community Outreach Street-level outreach services meeting homeless individuals where they are, conducting eligibility assessments, connecting them with emergency shelters and vital community resources, and leading annual Point-in-Time counts for the AL-501 Continuum of Care.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65 scattered-site units for disabled chronically homeless individuals with 10 beds prioritized for chronically homeless veterans (CHP)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AltaPointe Health SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAltaPointe Health Systems plans and facilitates a comprehensive, behavioral healthcare system that promotes the wellness and recovery of people living with mental illness, substance abuse and developmental disability. Partnership provides mental health and substance abuse services for clients.
• The LighthousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Lighthouse is committed to providing support, preventing violence and promoting justice for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Partnership serves domestic violence survivors in the coordinated entry system.
• Catholic Social Services, BaldwinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic Social Services in the Archdiocese of Mobile provides service to people in need, advocates for justice in social structures, and calls the entire church and people of good will to do the same. Provides emergency assistance and services.
• Dumas Wesley Community CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDWCC's Sybil H. Smith Family Village is committed to helping homeless women and families achieve and maintain housing stability by providing transitional housing and supportive services. Serves as a key referral partner for families.
• Family Promise of Coastal AlabamacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Promise of Coastal Alabama is a non-profit group of people of all faiths working together to address the problems of poverty and homelessness in the Mobile and Baldwin communities. Provides interfaith support network.
• Franklin Primary HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranklin Primary Health's mission is to be a compassionate and viable Community Health Center. Partnership provides primary healthcare services for clients.
• The Salvation Army of Coastal AlabamacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Salvation Army provides an evangelical Christian ministry with programs including Dauphin Way Lodge, Family Haven, Homeless Shelter for men, Project Able, Social Services, Disaster Response, and Work Therapy Rehabilitation Program. Major partner for emergency shelter and services.
• Disabled Homeless Housing / Service Center CSSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Emergency Assistance Ministry provides limited financial and material assistance to families and individuals in times of crisis, including emergency financial, material and disaster assistance.
• Homeless Coalition of the Alabama Gulf Coast (AL-501 CoC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHOPE serves as the lead agency for the AL-501 Continuum of Care. The CoC is responsible for coordinating homeless services, conducting the annual Point-in-Time count, and managing HUD CoC Program funding competition for the Alabama Gulf Coast region.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreOthersHUD provides federal funding through the Continuum of Care Program, supporting permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, and homeless prevention programs. Conducts annual Point-in-Time count requirements.
• Mobile CountycoreOthersMobile County provides funding for the HOME ARP program, a Rapid Rehousing and Homeless Prevention program for clients homeless outside of Mobile city limits within Mobile County.
• United Way of Southwest AlabamacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way of Southwest Alabama is a partnering agency providing community support and resources for homeless services in the region.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: National network of Catholic Charities agencies delivering housing assistance, emergency aid, refugee services, and case management. Catholic Social Services (Archdiocese of Mobile) is a direct HOPE partner; the network shares the faith-rooted nonprofit operating model and HUD-funded housing programs.
• The Salvation Army: Large faith-based social services organization operating shelters, transitional housing, disaster response, and case management across the U.S. Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama is a direct HOPE partner; broader organization is comparable in service breadth and emergency housing delivery.
• Mercy Housing: National nonprofit affordable housing developer and service provider operating supportive housing for formerly homeless, disabled, and low-income families. Comparable in mission and permanent supportive housing model, though Mercy typically develops and owns multifamily assets rather than running scattered-site programs.
• Volunteers of America: National nonprofit operating HUD-funded permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, veteran services (SSVF), and family programs. Highly comparable operating model to HOPE across multiple program lines, including the same SSVF federal funding stream.

Regional players

• Franklin Primary Health Center: Federally qualified community health center serving Mobile with primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care. Comparable as a regional safety-net provider that complements HOPE's case management through the partner network rather than competing for housing clients.
• AltaPointe Health Systems: Behavioral health provider serving Mobile and Baldwin counties with mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disability services. Comparable as a regional social services partner; overlaps with HOPE's disabled and chronically homeless client base rather than competing for HUD housing funding.

Emerging players

• National Alliance to End Homelessness: Nonprofit policy, research, and capacity-building organization focused on ending homelessness in the U.S. Comparable as a sector leader that supports CoC lead agencies like HOPE; not a direct service competitor but a peer in the same funding and policy ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Family Promise: National nonprofit network addressing family homelessness through shelter, prevention, and stabilization programs. Directly comparable to HOPE's family-focused rapid rehousing and homeless prevention offerings. Family Promise of Coastal Alabama is also a direct local partner, underscoring operational similarity.
• Dumas Wesley Community Center: Mobile-based nonprofit operating the Sybil H. Smith Family Village, a transitional housing program for homeless women and families. Operates in the same service area and serves overlapping populations as HOPE's YFF and Fresh Start programs.
• The Lighthouse (of Mobile): Mobile-area nonprofit providing domestic violence and sexual assault services. Directly comparable to HOPE's Fresh Start Domestic Violence Program in mission and client population; coordinates with HOPE via the Coordinated Entry system.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/housingfirstinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/hfal.inc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/housing-first-inc-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Housing First