Caritas
Caritas Communities is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating 33 Single Room Occupancy properties across Greater Boston, providing permanent affordable housing to over 1,000 very low-income residents annually, including veterans, seniors, and individuals transitioning from homelessness.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersBraintree, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Caritas does
Caritas Communities, founded in 1985 by P. Leo Corcoran and headquartered in Braintree, Massachusetts, is an independent, non-sectarian 501(c)(3) non-profit provider of permanent Single Room Occupancy (SRO) affordable housing for very low-income individuals across Greater Boston. The organization owns and operates 33 properties spanning 17 communities, serving more than 1,000 residents annually. Its resident base comprises five overlapping segments: very low-income working adults earning minimum wage (median resident income approximately $20,700), veterans with service-related challenges, low-income seniors aged 62+, disabled individuals on fixed incomes, and individuals transitioning directly from homelessness (nearly 60% of residents). Specialized programs include the Bedford Veterans Quarters and Sean Brooke House for veterans, and the 47-unit O'Connor Way senior housing development in South Boston opened in 2021 through a joint venture with South Boston Neighborhood Development Corp.
The organization's core technology layer consists of the Leonardo247 property management platform, delivered through a charitable in-kind partnership valued at approximately $100,000 annually. The platform supports remote monitoring, inspections, preventative maintenance, and operations management across all 33 properties. Operational performance is documented through measurable outcomes: 97.5% portfolio occupancy, 91 out of 100 on HUD REAC inspections (well above the 60-point passing threshold), 90% of Paul McGrath Homelessness Prevention Fund recipients retaining housing, 75% of veterans entering with no income subsequently earning income, and 62% of veteran residents achieving income increases through employment or benefits.
Caritas operates a hybrid nonprofit revenue model combining four streams: affordable residential rents (Section 8 subsidized or income-based), private charitable contributions (averaging $2,300 per resident annually in required giving), foundation grants (TD Charitable Foundation, Yawkey, Linn, United Way, Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation), and government funding via Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, CDBG grants, Inclusionary Development Program, and partnerships with the Boston Housing Authority. Go-to-market is community-led, with residents acquired through 20+ housing placement and social service agency referrals, VA partnerships, homeless shelter referrals, and direct application via the website's interactive property map. Major capital events include a $4.4M Massachusetts Housing Partnership 40-year fixed-rate refinancing in 2017 and a $250,000 TD Charitable Foundation Housing For Everyone grant in 2021. Annual fundraising galas have generated between $730,000 and $1.18 million, with the 37th Annual Gala in 2022 raising a record $1.18 million.
Caritas firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Caritas
- Legal name
- Caritas Communities Inc.
- Website
- https://caritascommunities.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Caritas Communities is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating 33 Single Room Occupancy properties across Greater Boston, providing permanent affordable housing to over 1,000 very low-income residents annually, including veterans, seniors, and individuals transitioning from homelessness.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Caritas industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Affordable Housing Services
- NAICS
- Community Housing Services (62422), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB), Independent Living with Supportive Services (Light ADL/IADL Support) (HLADAAAE)
Keywords
Where Caritas is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Braintree
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Caritas business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Residential Rents: Rental income from SRO units and permanent housing. Rents are set at affordable rates for very low-income individuals, with many units subsidized through Section 8 or other programs.
- Private Charitable Contributions: Individual donors contribute to annual fund, capital campaigns, and special initiatives. The organization needs approximately $2,300 per resident annually in private charitable contributions.
- Foundation Grants: Grants from TD Charitable Foundation, Yawkey Foundation, Linn Foundation, United Way, and other philanthropic organizations support operations, rental assistance, and capital projects.
- Government Funding and Tax Credits: Funding through Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, CDBG grants, Inclusionary Development Program, and partnerships with Boston Housing Authority.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Affordable rental housing with income-based eligibility |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Caritas product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Caritas Communities provides permanent Single Room Occupancy (SRO) affordable housing to very low-income individuals across 33 properties in 17 Greater Boston communities. Core offerings include general Permanent Housing, specialized Veterans Housing (Bedford Veterans Quarters and Sean Brooke House), and senior housing (O'Connor Way), complemented by Resident Support Services, the Healthy Resident Program, and the Paul McGrath Homelessness Prevention Fund for emergency rental assistance. Housing is paired with supportive services including social service navigation, employment assistance, wellness programming, and community building.
Product overview
Caritas Communities operates as a nonprofit housing provider offering a portfolio of permanent housing programs and supportive services. The core offering consists of Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing units across 33 properties in Greater Boston. Housing programs include general Permanent Housing for very low-income individuals and specialized Veterans Housing (Bedford Veterans Quarters and Sean Brooke House). These are supported by Resident Support Services, the Healthy Resident Program, and the Paul McGrath Homelessness Prevention Fund for emergency rental assistance. Community engagement programs include the Young Leaders Group and Welcome Home Basket initiative. The organization uses Leonardo247 property management software to manage operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Permanent Housing
Quantifiable outcome
- 97.5% occupancy rate maintained across portfolio
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Caritas
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Caritas technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Caritas partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Leonardo247coreCharitable partnership providing remote property management software and services valued at $100,000 annually. Leonardo247's platform helps manage 33 properties for inspections, property operations, preventative maintenance, and remote site management tailored to SRO environments.
- ComcastminorDonated laptops and one year of free internet service to 20 residents of Bedford Veterans Quarters through Internet Essentials program. Facilitated through Greater Boston Coordinated Veterans Services network.
- South Boston Neighborhood Development Corp. (SBNDC)coreJoint venture partner for O'Connor Way 47-unit senior housing development. Third partnership with SBNDC, creating 87 units of affordable housing at three South Boston locations.
- Goulston & StorrscoreLaw firm donated over 200 hours of legal services in 2020 for acquisition and development support. Provides pro bono legal expertise valued at market rates. Also performs volunteer projects like painting interiors.
- Equity ResidentialminorProvided financial and volunteer support including painting volunteer days at properties, organizing Welcome Home Baskets, and annual dinner sponsorship. Four years of partnership.
- Liberty Mutual (Serve With Liberty)minorLiberty Mutual volunteer program provides painting and refreshment volunteers for properties. Regular volunteer events painting porches and refreshing bathrooms.
- Lovin' SpoonfulsminorFood rescue organization delivering weekly to largest building in Cambridge (128 formerly homeless men) and 1202 Commonwealth Ave (60 very low-income residents). Longest food-rescue partnership.
- Food LinkminorFood rescue organization regularly supplying rescued food to Caritas homes in Arlington.
- The Food DriveminorNewest food rescue partner based in Melrose delivering regularly to two Caritas houses north of Boston. 'We feel a particular connection to your mission' - Jana Gimenez, Founder.
- BreaktimeminorIntersects housing and hunger by providing homeless young adults with job opportunities and career training in food service industry. Delivers fresh cooked meals to residents at two Boston Caritas houses. Caritas is housing provider for some Breaktime participants.
- Callahan Construction ManagerscoreVolunteer teams for property improvements (landscaping, driveway, steps). $100,000 match for 2022 Annual Gala, propelling record-breaking $1.18 million fundraising. Honored with P. Leo Corcoran Humanitarian Award.
- Brighton MarineminorFacilitated Comcast laptop and internet donation to Bedford Veterans Quarters through Greater Boston Coordinated Veterans Services network.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Caritas competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hearth, Inc. Boston-based nonprofit providing permanent supportive housing and case management for homeless individuals and families in Greater Boston. Operates a similar model of SRO and scattered-site affordable housing with resident services, making it the closest direct competitor to Caritas in the region (Caritas's Resident Services Coordinator Brittany Golden previously worked at Hearth).
- Father Bill's & MainSpring: Massachusetts-based nonprofit operating emergency shelters and permanent supportive housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Greater Boston and Greater Bristol County. Directly comparable in mission, service model, and target population to Caritas Communities.
- Heading Home: Greater Boston nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals and families. Operates a similar continuum-of-care housing model with supportive services for vulnerable populations in the same Massachusetts geography.
- Pine Street Inn: Boston's leading nonprofit provider of shelter, housing, and support services for people experiencing homelessness, including SRO-style permanent housing. Same geographic market, same service population (homeless and very low-income), and competing for similar funding and resident referrals.
- HomeStart: Greater Boston nonprofit focused on housing stabilization and preventing homelessness through rental assistance and scattered-site housing. Complementary service model targeting similar low-income individuals with similar income eligibility framework.
- Victory Programs: Boston-based nonprofit operating housing and recovery programs for people experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders, and chronic health issues. Operates SRO-style permanent housing with support services aligned to Caritas's model and target populations.
Emerging players
- Common Ground: New York City-based nonprofit operator of SRO-style supportive housing for low-income and formerly homeless individuals, including veteran housing (CommuniLife program). Similar SRO housing model but in a different metropolitan market, serving as an operational comparable rather than a direct competitor.
- The Fortune Society: New York City-based nonprofit providing supportive housing and reentry services for formerly incarcerated individuals and those affected by the justice system. Operates SRO and permanent supportive housing comparable to Caritas's service model and veteran/trauma-informed approach.
Others
- Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA): Boston-based nonprofit coalition and advocacy organization providing technical assistance, training, and policy support to Massachusetts housing and shelter providers. Has recognized Caritas for its work and serves as a peer/funder ecosystem partner rather than a direct operator.
Broad incumbents
- Boston Housing Authority: Largest public housing authority in New England and a key referral partner for Caritas Communities through Priority One placements. While not a direct competitor, BHA operates Section 8, public housing, and mixed-income programs in the same geography, setting policy and serving overlapping populations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Caritas social profiles
Digital presenceCaritas financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Caritas leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Caritas funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Caritas M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Caritas
What does Caritas do?
Caritas Communities provides permanent Single Room Occupancy (SRO) affordable housing to very low-income individuals across 33 properties in 17 Greater Boston communities. Core offerings include general Permanent Housing, specialized Veterans Housing (Bedford Veterans Quarters and Sean Brooke House), and senior housing (O'Connor Way), complemented by Resident Support Services, the Healthy Resident Program, and the Paul McGrath Homelessness Prevention Fund for emergency rental assistance. Housing is paired with supportive services including social service navigation, employment assistance, wellness programming, and community building.
Is Caritas a public or private company?
Caritas is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Caritas founded?
Caritas was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Caritas based?
Caritas is headquartered in Braintree, United States, in the North America region.
How does Caritas make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Residential Rents are the primary driver. The others are private Charitable Contributions, foundation Grants and government Funding and Tax Credits.
Who are Caritas's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hearth, Inc., Father Bill's & MainSpring, Heading Home, Pine Street Inn, HomeStart and Victory Programs. Emerging players are Common Ground and The Fortune Society. Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA) is listed as an others. Boston Housing Authority is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Caritas have an API?
No public API is recorded for Caritas.
What industry is Caritas in?
Caritas's product category is Affordable Housing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIANAA, Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing), with a secondary code of HLADAAAB, Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities. Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.