Bill Wilson Center

What Bill Wilson Center does

Bill Wilson Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization founded in 1973 and headquartered at 3490 The Alameda in Santa Clara, California. The organization provides a comprehensive portfolio of community-based programs focused on preventing and ending youth and family homelessness across Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, serving nearly 5,000 children, youth, young adults, individuals, and families annually and reaching more than 109,000 additional clients through street outreach and crisis line programs. Its service mix spans emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, outpatient mental health and counseling, foster youth support, LGBTQ+ services, drop-in centers, and family resource centers. The organization is described as a "more than $30 million" operation and employs 101-250 staff.

Operationally, BWC is a service-delivery organization rather than a technology company. It does not operate a commercial product, SaaS platform, or proprietary technology stack; its infrastructure consists of standard nonprofit systems including donor management, case management, and a public website. The organization distributes services through its own physical locations across San Jose, Santa Clara, Gilroy, and Sunnyvale, supplemented by the Here4You centralized shelter-referral call center, school-based counseling contracts with multiple districts, the National Safe Place network, and a Santa Cruz host home program.

BWC's revenue model is a mix of government grants and contracts (Santa Clara County, City of San Jose, federal HUD), foundation grants (Sobrato Philanthropies, Sunlight Giving, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, El Camino Hospital), individual donations through the Impact & Inspire Circle monthly giving program, and corporate sponsorships (Cisco, FoodMaxx, San Francisco 49ers Foundation). Services are provided free of charge or on a sliding fee scale to clients; there is no commercial pricing model. Recent capital commitments include approximately $32.6 million from Santa Clara County for The HUB, a potential $5 million Sunnyvale Shelter contract, and $39.5 million in federal HUD funding channeled through the County for homelessness response.

Name

Bill Wilson Center

Legal name

Bill Wilson Center

Website

https://billwilsoncenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth and Family Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Child and Youth Services (62411), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI)

Keywords

• Youth homeless services
• Transitional housing programs
• Outpatient mental health
• Foster youth support
• Community counseling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Clara

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Grants & Contracts: BWC receives significant funding from federal, state, and county government sources including HUD grants, Santa Clara County Mental Health Services Act funding, and county contracts for shelter operations.
2. Foundation & Philanthropic Grants: Support from private foundations such as Sobrato Philanthropies, Sobrato Family Foundation, Sunlight Giving, and Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
3. Individual Donations & Corporate Sponsorships: Individual donors contribute through the Impact & Inspire Circle monthly giving program, one-time donations, car donations, stock donations, and estate giving. Corporate sponsors such as Cisco, FoodMaxx, and others sponsor events like the Youth Voices Benefit Film Festival.
4. Contracted Shelter Operations: BWC operates shelters under contract with Santa Clara County, including the Sunnyvale Shelter (145-bed facility) under a potential $5 million county contract, and receives county funding for The HUB foster youth center ($20 million approved in 2021, additional $12.6 million allocated in 2023).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bill Wilson Center is a nonprofit social services organization that operates more than a dozen housing programs (emergency shelters, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, host homes) for youth ages 12-24 and families experiencing homelessness. It also delivers outpatient mental health and behavioral health counseling, foster youth support, LGBTQ+ youth services, family resource centers, and crisis hotlines (including the Here4You centralized shelter referral line) across Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.

Product overview

Bill Wilson Center is a nonprofit social services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of community-based programs focused on preventing and ending youth and family homelessness. The organization operates a multi-service model comprising housing programs (emergency shelters, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and host home programs), mental health and counseling services (outpatient behavioral health, family and individual counseling, school-based counseling), and supportive services (drop-in centers, family resource centers, LGBTQ+ services, foster youth support, and crisis hotlines). Core programs include Safety Net Shelter for runaway youth ages 12-17, The HUB for foster youth ages 15-24, Peacock Commons 28-unit supportive housing, Transitional Housing Program for homeless youth ages 18-24, and the Here4You Call Center for shelter referrals. The organization serves nearly 5,000 individuals annually through its various programs and reaches more than 109,000 clients through street outreach and crisis line programs across Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The HUB: A youth led and youth organized community center dedicated to supporting current and former foster youth, ages 15-24. Located at 1510 Parkmoor Ave, Ste 101, San Jose, CA 95126 and 7933 Wren Ave., Gilroy.
• Young Adult Family Shelter (YAFS)
• Transitional Housing Program
• Peacock Commons
• Safety Net Shelter
• College Student Housing
• Drop-In Center

Products and services

• Safety Net Shelter
• Transitional Housing Program
• Peacock Commons
• Transitional Housing – Rapid Re-Housing (TH-RRH)
• Rapid Rehousing
• The HUB
• Transitional Housing Placement Program (THPP)
• Young Adult Family Shelter (YAFS)
• North County Family Shelter (Sunnyvale Shelter)
• College Student Housing
• Santa Cruz Host Homes
• LGBTQ Transitional Living Program
• Transition Aged Youth (TAY) Outpatient Behavioral Health
• Medi-Cal Youth Services
• Family & Individual Counseling
• School Outreach Counseling
• Drop-In Center
• Family Resource Center
• Here4You Call Center
• Safe Place
• LGBTQ+ Connections
• Homelessness Prevention System (HPS) Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Provides beds for 1,000+ people every night
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Second Harvest of Silicon ValleysupportingOthersFood bank partner. BWC receives food support for its family resource centers and shelter programs through Second Harvest of Silicon Valley's network.
• Santa Clara County Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in housing development projects including the Pavilion Inn conversion. The Housing Authority is a key partner in affordable and supportive housing development in the county.
• Jamboree Housing CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner in the Pavilion Inn conversion project. Jamboree Housing Corporation is co-developing the 43-unit housing project for transitional age foster youth with BWC, San Jose, and Santa Clara County.
• Santa Clara County Office of Supportive HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey county partner coordinating homelessness response. The Office of Supportive Housing provides funding, referrals, and strategic direction for shelter and housing programs operated by BWC.
• Sacred Heart Community ServicesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Santa Clara County Homelessness Prevention System (HPS) program. Sacred Heart is one of 19 community organization partners in the HPS network working to prevent homelessness.
• Destination: HomesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Santa Clara County Homelessness Prevention System (HPS) and sponsor of the Youth Voices Benefit Film Festival. Destination: Home is a key homelessness nonprofit coordinating system-level responses in Silicon Valley.
• National Safe Place NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliation providing BWC's Safe Place program with a framework, training, and national standards for youth crisis response. The TXT 4 HELP text line is a nationwide service under this network.
• San Jose Conservation Corps + Charter SchoolsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of the 2026 Youth Voices Benefit Film Festival. Potential partner in youth education and employment services for BWC clients.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• First Place for Youth: California nonprofit providing housing, education, employment, and supportive services to current and former foster youth ages 16–24. Closely comparable to BWC's The HUB and THPP programs in serving transition age foster youth in the Bay Area with a similar California state contract base.
• Covenant House California: Nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and supportive services to youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in California. Comparable as a youth-focused housing and services operator with crisis response infrastructure (hotlines, drop-in centers) and a similar funding mix of government contracts and donations.
• Huckleberry Youth Programs: San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit serving at-risk youth and their families with counseling, case management, shelter, and juvenile justice diversion services. Comparable as a multi-service youth and family organization with similar counseling, shelter, and community-based programs.
• Hamilton Families: San Francisco nonprofit focused on family homelessness, operating emergency shelters, transitional housing, and rapid rehousing. Comparable as a Bay Area nonprofit specializing in housing and supportive services for homeless families, with a similar model combining shelter operations with case management.
• Larkin Street Youth Services: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing shelter, housing, education, and employment services to homeless and at-risk youth ages 12–24. Closest geographic and mission-aligned peer to BWC, operating an integrated housing-plus-services model for transition age youth in the Bay Area.
• Abode Services: Bay Area nonprofit providing supportive housing, shelter, and homelessness prevention across Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz counties. Directly comparable as a regional multi-county operator of shelter and supportive housing funded by HUD and county contracts.
• LifeMoves: Silicon Valley-based nonprofit operating multiple shelters and interim housing programs across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Directly comparable geographic peer delivering emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services to homeless individuals and families.

Others

• Destination: Home: Silicon Valley public-private partnership focused on ending homelessness in Santa Clara County. Directly comparable as a county-level funder/convener and BWC partner within the HPS Homelessness Prevention System, with overlapping role in coordinating funding and policy response.

Emerging players

• Fred Finch Youth & Family Services: California nonprofit providing mental health, housing, and wraparound services to youth, young adults, and families facing complex challenges. Comparable to BWC's behavioral health and transition age youth programs, with overlapping Medi-Cal and county contract revenue streams.

Broad incumbents

• Los Angeles LGBT Center: Large multiservice LGBTQ+ organization offering housing, mental health, and youth services including dedicated programs for homeless LGBTQ+ youth. Comparable to BWC's LGBTQ+ Connections and LGBTQ Transitional Living Program, though operating at much larger scale across Los Angeles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BillWilsonCtr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BillWilsonCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/BillWilsonCenter.org?ref=mf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bill-wilson-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/billwilsonctr

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 Bill Wilson Center