Coalition for the Homeless

What Coalition for the Homeless does

Coalition for the Homeless, Inc. (doing business as DC Coalition for the Homeless) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1979 by the Inter-Faith Conference of Metropolitan Washington and incorporated on August 18, 1981. It provides a comprehensive continuum of care to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC, operating 10 facilities across the District. The service portfolio spans emergency low-barrier shelters (Emery Low-Barrier Shelter, 130 beds; Naylor Road Shelter, 85 beds; Eve's Place, 60 beds), severe weather/hypothermia shelters (Emery Hypothermia Center, 55 beds; Salvation Army Hypothermia Center, 40 beds), transitional housing programs (Park Road, Webster House, La Casa, 40 beds), and permanent housing (Anacostia Road Apartments, 8 units; Sherman Avenue SRO, 10 units). These residential programs are complemented by employment assistance services including a job readiness and coaching program and the federally contracted SNAP Employment & Training program administered since 2017.

The organization's revenue model is multi-stream and diversified, combining tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporations (collected via online portals, mail, donor-advised funds, crowdfunding, and in-kind contributions), government grants from DC Department of Human Services and HUD routed through a 34+ year partnership with the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness (TCP), special event fundraising (the annual Stepping Out for the Homeless gala), and planned giving through bequests. All client services are provided free of charge. The go-to-market is community-led: clients are reached through the DC DHS Homeless Services Hotline (311), partner referrals, and direct walk-in intake at facilities such as the Emery Low-Barrier Shelter (daily intake at 6:00 p.m.).

The Coalition has no proprietary technology and operates with a human-service delivery model centered on case management, behavioral health counseling, life skills training, and employment coaching. Technology footprint is limited to a marketing/donor website (dccfh.org), social media channels, and standard nonprofit CRM/HMIS tools. The organization is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors and is led by Executive Director Lucho Vásquez, who succeeded Michael L. Ferrell in February 2025 after 35 years of prior leadership. In 2026 the organization relocated its headquarters to 1621 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.

Name

Coalition for the Homeless

Legal name

Coalition for the Homeless, Inc.

Website

https://dccfh.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1979 that provides shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing, and employment assistance to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC, operating 10 facilities across the District and funded through government grants, donations, and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA), Public Housing & Social Housing Development/Modernization Programs (FSALAKAH)

Keywords

• Homeless services
• Emergency shelter
• Transitional housing
• Permanent supportive housing
• Employment assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual and corporate donations received through online portals, mail, donor-advised funds, crowdfunding, and in-kind contributions. All contributions are tax-deductible as the organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
2. Government Grants and Funding: Funding from DC Department of Human Services (DHS) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through partnership with Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness. Also includes SNAP Employment & Training program administration.
3. Special Events: Annual fundraising events including Stepping Out for the Homeless gala. Corporate sponsorships and event registration fees support operational funding.
4. Planned Giving: Bequests and estate planning contributions designated to support the organization's mission long-term.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Coalition for the Homeless operates a continuum of housing and supportive services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC. Programs include low-barrier emergency shelters, severe weather hypothermia shelters, transitional housing programs, permanent housing (SROs and affordable apartments), and employment assistance services including a SNAP E&T program. All services are provided free of charge to clients.

Product overview

The Coalition for the Homeless operates a portfolio of housing and supportive service programs in Washington, DC. The core offerings include emergency low-barrier shelters (Emery Low-Barrier Shelter) and severe weather shelters (Emery Hypothermia Center, Eve's Place, Salvation Army Hypothermia Center) for immediate safety needs; transitional housing programs (Park Road Transitional Program, The Webster House, La Casa Bilingual Transitional Housing Program) for short-term accommodation with support services; and permanent housing options (Anacostia Road Apartments, Sherman Avenue SRO) for long-term stability. These residential programs are complemented by employment assistance services including the Employment Assistance Program and SNAP Employment & Training Program, which provide job readiness, training, and placement support to help clients achieve economic self-sufficiency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emery Low-Barrier Shelter A year-round, 24/7 low-barrier emergency shelter providing safe accommodation for up to 130 men experiencing homelessness, with case management and individualized support services.
• Emery Hypothermia Center
• Eve's Place Shelter A 60-bed women's shelter providing supportive services for women experiencing homelessness, operating during severe weather emergency alerts.
• Salvation Army Hypothermia Center A 40-bed severe weather shelter for men located at 3335 Sherman Avenue, operated in collaboration with the District of Columbia government since January 2021.
• Park Road Transitional Program A transitional housing program for men who have experienced homelessness, designed to help participants achieve stability within approximately six months through housing, employment, and personal growth support.
• The Webster House A transitional housing program for men who have experienced homelessness, offering safe housing with individualized goals, employment support, life skills training, and behavioral health counseling.
• La Casa Bilingual Transitional Housing Program A transitional housing program providing accommodations for up to 40 men, currently under renovation and temporarily closed.
• Naylor Road Shelter An apartment-style shelter serving up to 85 men, providing temporary housing with supportive services.
• Anacostia Road Apartments Eight one-bedroom affordable housing units for low-income individuals and families who have experienced homelessness or are at risk of losing housing, located at 1320 and 1322 Anacostia Road SE.
• Sherman Avenue Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Ten individual units for men experiencing homelessness or living on low incomes, offering shared kitchen and bathroom facilities to foster community while encouraging self-sufficient living.
• Employment Assistance Program A comprehensive employment program offering job readiness workshops, resume building, interview preparation, transitional job opportunities, job training connections, and one-on-one coaching for clients in Coalition shelter and housing programs.
• SNAP Employment & Training Program A program administered since 2017 providing job training, employment readiness, and supportive services to individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability through SNAP benefits.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered key, core and minor.

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment & TrainingkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Since 2017, CFH has administered SNAP Employment & Training programs that provide job training, employment readiness, and supportive services to individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability. CFH's expertise in workforce development has made it one of D.C.'s trusted partners in connecting public benefits to employment outcomes.
• Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness (TCP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991For more than 34 years, CFH has partnered with TCP, the District's central coordinating agency for homeless services. TCP manages the city's homeless services budget on behalf of DC Department of Human Services (DHS) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Through this partnership, CFH receives funding, participates in coordinated entry, and contributes to citywide data collection and performance measurement.
• DC Housing Authority (DCHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFH collaborates with DCHA to provide rent subsidies and housing vouchers for eligible clients residing in CFH's permanent housing programs. These subsidies ensure affordability for residents with low or fixed incomes and help them transition from homelessness to long-term stability.
• KBEC Group, Incorporated - Living Life Alternative's ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiving Life Alternative's Program is the District of Columbia's first LGBTQ+ Low Barrier shelter serving homeless individuals of the LGBTQ+ community. The shelter provides case management services, job readiness training, life skills classes, psychosocial support, and health and wellness support. CFH refers clients to this partner resource.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• So Others Might Eat (SOME): SOME is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit providing comprehensive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness and poverty, including emergency shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing, workforce development, and healthcare — directly comparable to CFH's continuum-of-care model in the same DC market.
• Friendship Place: Friendship Place is a DC-based nonprofit operating emergency, transitional, and permanent housing programs alongside case management and employment services for people experiencing homelessness, directly overlapping with CFH's service portfolio in the same geography.
• Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness (TCP): TCP is the District's central coordinating agency for homeless services and a 34+ year direct partner of CFH, administering DC's HUD/DHS funding, coordinated entry, and citywide homeless services data — making it both a critical partner and a structural counterpart in the same DC service system.
• Miriam's Kitchen: Miriam's Kitchen is a DC nonprofit providing meals, case management, and housing programs to individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, with a heavy focus on permanent supportive housing outcomes — directly comparable to CFH's mission and DC geography.
• Thrive DC: Thrive DC provides day services, case management, and housing support to people experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC — overlapping directly with CFH's service population, geography, and mission.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington: Catholic Charities DC operates multiple shelter, housing, and social service programs for low-income and homeless individuals and families across the District, including some programs in partnership with or alongside CFH — comparable scope and DC market focus.
• N Street Village: N Street Village is a DC-based nonprofit offering shelter, permanent supportive housing, and comprehensive services specifically for women experiencing homelessness — a sub-segment peer to CFH's Eve's Place women's shelter, in the same DC market.
• Salvation Army National Capital Area Command: The Salvation Army's DC arm operates the Hypothermia Center (managed by CFH since 2021) and other shelter/housing programs for people experiencing homelessness in the District, making it a direct partner-and-peer to CFH in the same DC market.

Emerging players

• Pathways to Housing DC: Pathways to Housing DC applies the Housing First model to provide immediate permanent supportive housing to individuals experiencing chronic homelessness in DC — an emerging programmatic alternative that competes for the same funder and government dollars as CFH.

Broad incumbents

• National Alliance to End Homelessness: The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a broader policy, research, and advocacy organization focused on preventing and ending homelessness nationally — adjacent to CFH's direct-service model and relevant as a sector convener and federal policy influencer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dcforhomeless
• Facebookfacebook.com/CoalitionHomeless
• Instagraminstagram.com/dcforhomeless

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Coalition for the Homeless