Homes First
Homes First is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that owns and manages 62 affordable rental properties across Thurston and Mason Counties, Washington, serving roughly 300 low-income residents annually through specialized housing programs for families, people with disabilities, and individuals in recovery.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersLacey, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Homes First does
Homes First is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affordable rental housing provider founded in 1990 and headquartered in Olympia, Washington. It acquires, rehabilitates, and manages 62 properties across Thurston and Mason Counties, serving approximately 300 low-income residents annually and having housed more than 5,000 people over its 35-year history. Its tenant base spans multiple specialized segments: low-income families, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (13 shared homes modeled on the Vanier approach), individuals in recovery from substance use disorders (Oxford House and Henderson Recovery Home partnerships), veterans, and youth aging out of foster care (Genesis House).
The organization's "product" is a portfolio of affordable rental homes — both shared houses and single-family residences — delivered through direct-to-tenant placement without a traditional waitlist. Core technical components are physical (property rehabilitation, solar installations via Olympia Community Solar and Puget Sound Energy partnerships) rather than digital, supported by a Wix website, Bloomerang donation CRM, and qgiv event fundraising tools. As of January 2026, Homes First outsourced property management to a third-party vendor to focus internal staff on mission-driven growth.
Homes First's revenue model blends four streams: tenant rental income on income-based affordable leases, individual donations (including IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions and recurring monthly donors), corporate sponsorships and fundraising events (Heroes for Housing breakfast, Real Community Heroes awards, League of Housing Heroes $1K+ giving circle), and public contracts — with access to approximately $4 million in state and county funds disbursed on a reimbursement basis. The organization operates with 1-10 employees and a 10-member all-volunteer board of directors, with CEO Trudy Soucoup leading the team.
Homes First firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Homes First
- Legal name
- Homes First
- Website
- https://homesfirst.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Homes First is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that owns and manages 62 affordable rental properties across Thurston and Mason Counties, Washington, serving roughly 300 low-income residents annually through specialized housing programs for families, people with disabilities, and individuals in recovery.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Homes First industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Affordable Housing Services
- NAICS
- Other Community Housing Services (624229), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232)
- SIC
- Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Small Residential Care Homes (RCFE/Board & Care) (HLADABAF), Senior & Assisted Living Residential Property Management (BPAJAFAE)
Keywords
Where Homes First is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lacey
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Homes First business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tenant Rental Income: Affordable rental income from tenants in 62 properties across Thurston and Mason Counties, serving approximately 300 residents annually.
- Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters, including monthly donors, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (up to $100,000/year for donors 70½+), and bequests.
- Corporate Sponsorships & Fundraising Events: Annual Heroes for Housing fundraising breakfast, Real Community Heroes awards event, League of Housing Heroes annual giving program ($1,000+), and corporate sponsorships at various levels.
- Public Contracts & Government Funding: Access to over $4 million in public contract funds from state and county sources, operating on a reimbursement model where Homes First spends first then awaits repayment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Income-based affordable rental pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Homes First product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Homes First is a nonprofit organization that acquires, rehabilitates, and manages affordable rental housing for low-income individuals, families, veterans, adults with developmental disabilities, people in recovery, and youth aging out of foster care. It owns 62 properties across Thurston and Mason Counties, Washington, serving approximately 300 residents annually with a portfolio that includes shared homes, single-family residences, and specialized recovery and disability housing programs.
Product overview
Homes First operates as a nonprofit affordable housing provider offering a portfolio of housing solutions rather than a traditional product-platform architecture. The core offering is affordable rental housing serving low-income individuals and families in Thurston and Mason Counties, Washington. The housing portfolio includes shared homes and single-family homes, with specialized programs such as Oxford House recovery housing, housing for adults with developmental disabilities, and Genesis House for young adults. Additional services include community outreach connecting residents with wraparound support services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Rise & Rebuild: Emergency reserve rebuilding campaign launched in response to 2025 housing emergencies that depleted financial reserves
- Heroes for Housing
- Real Community Heroes
- League of Housing Heroes
Products and services
- Affordable Rental Housing
Quantifiable outcome
- 5,000+ people housed since 1990
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Homes First
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Homes First technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Homes First partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- Thurston CountycoreTransfer deal for two Lacey properties (5501 and 5505 SE 32nd Court) previously leased to Homes First since 2006. County authorized permanent transfer under Ordinance 16533 for affordable housing use.
- City of TumwatercoreDonated property to Homes First for rehabilitation into affordable housing. Collaborative project including home remodeling, with city support for the initiative.
- Sound Credit UnionminorHosted annual employee charity fundraiser benefiting Homes First, raising over $17,000. Sound CU is dedicated to strengthening communities through volunteerism and partnerships with local nonprofits.
- Doyle ConstructionminorConstruction company that helped Homes First complete complicated housing projects, including the Tumwater home renovation for Oxford House.
- TCRA (Thurston County Realtors Association)minorDay of Caring volunteer events, partnering with Homes First for community service days including painting, moveout cleanups, and construction projects.
- Keller Williams (Red Day)minorAnnual Red Day volunteer event combined with TCRA Day of Caring for Homes First property maintenance projects.
- Olympia Community SolarcorePartnered to place solar panels on shared homes for adults with developmental disabilities and participate in community solar projects including the Sunflower Community Solar Project at the Olympia Farmers Market.
- Puget Sound EnergycoreProvided solar grant enabling installation of solar panels on Homes First properties, reducing energy costs for low-income tenants.
- The ArccorePartnership to serve low-income adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Homes First owns 13 homes modeled after the Vanier approach, matching people with disabilities and caregivers with affordable shared housing.
- Oxford House InternationalcoreTwo of Homes First's first projects were recovery homes for clean and sober living. Currently operates five Oxford House properties in Thurston County housing over 50 people annually. Oxford House provides self-help supportive housing for those in recovery from substance use disorders.
- Olympia Federal Savings (OlyFed)flagshipFounding partner of Homes First since 1990. OlyFed has been a consistent sponsor and supporter, viewing housing as core to their business values since their founding in 1906. Provides corporate sponsorships and serves as a key community advocate.
- Housing AuthoritycoreReferral partner that connects eligible individuals and families to Homes First for affordable housing placement.
- Out of the Woods SheltercoreFamily shelter run by Unitarian Church that connected homeless families with Homes First for permanent housing placement.
- City of LaceycorePartnership with City of Lacey and North Thurston School District to acquire and operate Genesis House for young women finishing school.
- North Thurston School DistrictcorePartnership to provide housing opportunities for young adults working to achieve educational goals.
- Community Youth Services (CYS)corePartners on homes for young adults getting jobs in the community. CYS manages Coordinated Entry for unaccompanied children, teens, and young adults.
- Family Support Center of South SoundcoreCoordinated Entry hub for Thurston County families with children, connecting families in need with Homes First housing.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Homes First competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Catholic Community Services of Western Washington: Large regional nonprofit providing housing, behavioral health, and family services across Western Washington. Operates affordable housing programs serving similar low-income and vulnerable populations in overlapping Washington geographies.
- Habitat for Humanity of Washington State: Large nonprofit affordable housing organization with state-level affiliates across Washington. While Habitat focuses on homeownership pathways rather than rentals, it is a comparable mission-aligned nonprofit serving low-income Washington residents, with overlapping donor and volunteer ecosystems.
Direct peers
- Thurston County Housing Authority: Local government housing authority operating in the same Thurston County geography as Homes First. Operates subsidized rental housing and Section 8 voucher programs, serving the same low-income tenant population. Listed in Homes First's own data as a referral partner.
- The Arc of Washington State: Statewide advocacy and service organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Homes First has partnered with The Arc since 1995 to develop 13 shared homes based on the Vanier model, making The Arc both a partner and direct functional peer in disability housing.
- Oxford House International: National nonprofit operating sober recovery housing through self-supporting charter homes. Homes First explicitly operates five Oxford Houses in Thurston County, making this both a strategic partner and direct functional peer in the recovery housing segment.
- Community Youth Services (CYS): Olympia-based nonprofit serving youth and young adults including housing programs. Listed in Homes First's own data as a Channel Partner for Genesis House and youth housing programs, making it a direct peer in the youth housing segment.
- Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI): Seattle-based nonprofit operating affordable rental housing, tiny house villages, and supportive housing programs across Washington State. LIHI is a close functional peer — same state, same affordable rental focus, similar multi-segment tenant model (families, recovery, disabilities), though operating at significantly larger scale than Homes First.
- Family Support Center of South Sound: Regional nonprofit providing housing and family services in Thurston and Mason Counties. Operates the Coordinated Entry hub for homeless families that feeds referrals into Homes First — a direct functional peer in family housing and homelessness services in the same geography.
Regional players
- Plymouth Housing: Seattle-based nonprofit providing permanent supportive housing for low-income and previously homeless adults. Similar nonprofit rental housing model, though focused on supportive housing in King County rather than the Thurston/Mason region.
- Capitol Land Trust: Thurston County-based nonprofit focused on land conservation and affordable housing partnerships. Operates in the same geography with overlapping community partnerships and a complementary mission of housing affordability.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Homes First social profiles
Digital presenceHomes First financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Homes First leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Homes First funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Homes First 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 Homes First
What does Homes First do?
Homes First is a nonprofit organization that acquires, rehabilitates, and manages affordable rental housing for low-income individuals, families, veterans, adults with developmental disabilities, people in recovery, and youth aging out of foster care. It owns 62 properties across Thurston and Mason Counties, Washington, serving approximately 300 residents annually with a portfolio that includes shared homes, single-family residences, and specialized recovery and disability housing programs.
Is Homes First a public or private company?
Homes First is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Homes First founded?
Homes First was founded in 1990. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Homes First based?
Homes First is headquartered in Lacey, United States, in the North America region.
How does Homes First make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tenant Rental Income is the primary driver. The others are individual Donations, corporate Sponsorships & Fundraising Events and public Contracts & Government Funding.
Who are Homes First's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Catholic Community Services of Western Washington and Habitat for Humanity of Washington State. Direct peers are Thurston County Housing Authority, The Arc of Washington State, Oxford House International, Community Youth Services (CYS), Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) and Family Support Center of South Sound. Regional players are Plymouth Housing and Capitol Land Trust.
Does Homes First have an API?
No public API is recorded for Homes First.
What industry is Homes First in?
Homes First's product category is Affordable Housing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAC, Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts), with a secondary code of BPAGADAO, Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 624229 and its SIC code is 7340.