What Redwood Community Action Agency does

Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA) is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit community action agency incorporated in February 1980 and headquartered in Eureka, California. It is one of approximately 1,100 federally designated Community Action Agencies operating under the Economic Opportunities Act of 1964, governed by a tripartite board with one-third representation from the low-income community, the public sector, and the private sector. RCAA's mission is fighting poverty in Humboldt County, California, through five core service divisions: Property Management (70 affordable housing units plus ADA units in Eureka, McKinleyville, and Fortuna, managed with Rural Community Homes); Energy and Environmental Services (LIHEAP/HEAP utility assistance, weatherization, health-and-safety repairs); Youth Services Bureau / RAVEN Project (street outreach, emergency shelter, transitional housing for ages 12–24, including Launch Pad, THP+, THPP-NMD, and the Turner House); Adult and Family Services / Community Services (PACT, HHAP-APS, TOOTH oral health, Money! Search and Rescue financial literacy); and Natural Resources Services (watershed, safe-routes-to-school, community forestry).

RCAA's core 'technology' is human-delivered case management under a trauma-informed, harm-reduction model rather than a software platform; its primary physical assets are owned and operated housing, the 81-bed largest homeless shelter in Humboldt County, and on-site supportive service contracts at the West Village Studios HOMEKEY project (78 units, Arcata), the Onyx project (10 family units), and Blue Vic. The business model is grant-funded: revenue comes from federal block grants (CSBG, LIHEAP, HUD), California state programs (HHAP, CalFresh, Office of Child Abuse Prevention), Humboldt County contracts (DHHS, Child Welfare Services, Adult Protective Services), local foundations (Humboldt Area Foundation, Humboldt Sponsors, Northcoast Grantmaking Partnership), and private donations. All services are provided free of charge to income-eligible residents, and RCAA reports low 7–12% administrative overhead, leveraging each CSBG dollar with approximately $4 of additional state, local, and private contributions.

Go-to-market is non-commercial: outreach is conducted via social media (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok for the RAVEN Project), community newsletters, partner-agency referrals from Humboldt County DHHS, and direct street outreach. RCAA's primary customer segments are low-income individuals and families, homeless and at-risk youth (ages 12–24), emancipated foster youth (ages 18–25), and low-to-moderate-income renters and energy-burdened households in Humboldt County. Leadership is provided by Executive Director Val Martinez, who also serves as Energy Services Director, alongside directors of Community Services (Lorey Keele), Natural Resources Services (John Moredo-Burich), and Human Resources (Yvette McFarlane); the Finance Director role is currently vacant.

Name

Redwood Community Action Agency

Legal name

Redwood Community Action Agency

Website

https://rcaa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Redwood Community Action Agency is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community action agency founded in 1980 that provides affordable housing, weatherization and energy assistance, youth and family services, and natural resources programs to low-income residents of Humboldt County, California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Eureka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: RCAA receives federal, state, and local government funding including Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) to operate programs and services for low-income community members.
2. Private Donations: Monetary contributions from private individuals, businesses, and foundations to support ongoing and new community projects.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Redwood Community Action Agency is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community action agency founded in February 1980 (Tax ID 94-2646370), based in Eureka, California, that delivers free or low-cost programs in affordable housing, energy bill assistance, youth services, family services, financial literacy education, and oral health to income-eligible households in Humboldt County. The agency operates with 51-100 employees and is governed by a tripartite board representing low-income, public, and private sector stakeholders.

Product overview

Redwood Community Action Agency is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of community service programs rather than a unified technology product. The organization provides affordable housing (Property Management), energy efficiency and weatherization services (Energy and Environmental Services), youth services including emergency shelter and transitional housing (Youth Services Bureau), and adult/family services including housing assistance, oral health education, and financial literacy programs (Community Services). These programs operate independently as distinct service offerings, serving low-to-moderate income residents of Humboldt County, California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Youth Service Bureau (YSB): Division providing services to homeless youth, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, and drop-in services.
• Energy and Environmental Services Division
• Community Services Division
• Property Management Division
• The RAVEN Project
• TOOTH Program

Products and services

• Affordable Housing Services Affordable housing programs serving income-eligible households in Humboldt County, California.
• Energy Assistance Program LIHEAP-funded energy bill assistance and weatherization services for low-income households to reduce home energy costs.
• Eureka Resource Center for Youth Walk-in resource center providing youth-focused support services for at-risk young people in the Eureka area.
• Health & Family Services Family support programs delivering case management and social services to income-eligible families in Humboldt County.
• Financial Literacy Education Educational programs that build budgeting, banking, and personal finance skills for low-income adults and households.
• Oral Health Program Oral health services for income-eligible individuals and families lacking access to dental care.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 homes rehabilitated in Humboldt County through Housing Rehabilitation Division
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Arcata House PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Blue Vic permanent supportive housing project - a Victorian home in Eureka providing housing for transitional age youth and adults with lived experience of homelessness and medical, mental health, and/or SUD challenges. Also partner on Onyx housing project for families.
• Strombeck PropertiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwns and manages the Onyx 10-unit housing project for families with minor children that have experienced houselessness. RCAA provides on-site supportive services for tenants.
• Providence Health Care SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in development of Onyx permanent supportive family housing project.
• Dr. Evan BauxbaumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in development of Onyx permanent supportive family housing project.
• Rural Community Homes (RCHDC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRCAA works together with Rural Community Homes to offer a larger variety of properties and locations. RCHDC manages RCAA properties in Arcata, McKinleyville, Eureka, and Fortuna.
• Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funding source and referral partner for many AFS programs. Collaborates on addressing client needs at local, State and Federal level.
• Humboldt County Child Welfare ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect referral source for PACT program families working towards reunification. Also partner on Bringing Families Home program and West Village Studios referrals.
• Humboldt County Adult Protective ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect referral source for HHAP-APS program serving adults 18+ who are high-risk, vulnerable, and houseless.
• Danco Group (HOMEKEY)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwner of West Village Studios HOMEKEY project - 78 studio units of permanent supportive housing in Arcata where RCAA provides on-site supportive services.
• First 5 HumboldtsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for TOOTH oral health program serving preschool and K-6th grade children in Humboldt County.
• Open Door Community Health CenterssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal health center partner collaborating with AFS programs.
• Lifehouse HumboldtsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit partner supporting AFS program clients.
• Circle of SmilessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting TOOTH oral health program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Housing: One of the largest national affordable housing organizations providing supportive housing across multiple states. Overlaps with RCAA's permanent supportive housing programs (West Village Studios, Onyx) at much broader geographic scale.
• Habitat for Humanity: A national affordable housing nonprofit operating at much larger scale with overlapping affordable housing and home rehabilitation missions. Comparable on the housing-rehabilitation dimension but with a national scope and a different volunteer-driven construction model.

Direct peers

• Community Action Partnership of Kern County (CAPK): A California Community Action Agency of comparable scale operating multi-county anti-poverty, housing, energy, and youth programs. Directly comparable as a CAA using the same federal CSBG framework and tripartite governance model.
• Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC): A rural-focused CDFI and community services organization serving rural communities across the Western U.S. with housing, infrastructure, and community development programs. Comparable in rural community service mission and geographic focus.
• North Coast Opportunities (NCO): A Northern California community action organization serving Mendocino and Lake counties with comparable rural poverty, housing, and energy programs. Highly comparable for regional rural Northern California anti-poverty service delivery.
• Community Action Marin: A California CAA providing integrated anti-poverty services including housing, energy assistance, and youth programs under the same CSBG framework. Comparable in service mix and governance structure.
• Community Action of Napa Valley (CANV): California CAA providing housing, energy, and family services through the same federal CAA framework. Directly comparable as a peer organization with overlapping program portfolio and funding sources.

Regional players

• United Way of Humboldt County: A regional nonprofit operating in the same Humboldt County service area with overlapping community services and donor relationships. Comparable as a regional community services peer in the same geography.

Others

• Community Action Partnership (National Association): The national membership and advocacy association for the 1,100 Community Action Agencies including RCAA. Comparable as the ecosystem/enabling organization representing the same federal CAA network RCAA belongs to.
• California Association for Community Action: The statewide association representing California's Community Action Agencies. Comparable as the trade association providing training, advocacy, and coordination across the same network of California CAAs to which RCAA belongs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RedwoodCommunityActionAgency
• Instagraminstagram.com/redwoodcommunityactionagency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Redwood Community Action Agency