What HomeFirst Services does

HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1980 that delivers a full continuum of homeless services across Santa Clara County and Sonoma County, California. The organization's portfolio spans homelessness prevention, emergency shelter, interim housing, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, street outreach, and targeted programming for special populations including veterans (via the GPD and SSVF programs), transition aged youth (ages 18-25), families with children, pet owners (via the CARE fund), and chronically homeless individuals. HomeFirst directly operates the Boccardo Reception Center (250 beds), the Gilroy Shelter (120 adults nightly), seven Emergency Interim Housing sites totaling more than 500 private cabins/rooms (Bernal, Rue Ferrari, Arena, First Street, Via Del Oro, Mabury, Felipe), Labath Landing in Rohnert Park, and several permanent supportive housing complexes (Boccardo Family Living Center, Sobrato Family Living Center, Sobrato House, Iamesi Village, Mesa Terrace, Markham Plaza, Solaire Apartments). The organization also runs the Targeted Outreach Engagement Program (TOEP), Mountain View Cold Weather Shelter, Sonoma Valley Street Outreach, Petaluma Street Outreach, and the Coordinated Entry / By-Name-List systems that coordinate homelessness response across both counties.

Revenue is generated through a mix of government contracts (federal, state, county, and municipal), individual and corporate donations (Cisco, Adobe, eBay, Apple, KLA Foundation, Western Digital, Acrisure, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Sobrato Family Foundation), foundation grants (Housing Industry Foundation, Impact100 Sonoma, Sonoma County Homeless Coalition), rental and property income from owned housing units, and signature fundraising events (Iron Pants Fundraising Tournament, Beers & Bows, 45th Anniversary Benefit, Home Is Where the Art Is). The company self-describes as an "$80+M organization" with 10,000+ individuals impacted in FY24 and 6,000 receiving direct supportive services. The technology stack is standard commercial nonprofit tooling (Wix, Paycom, Cervistech, DonorPerfect, Constant Contact, Eventbrite, OneCause, Google Analytics/Ads); HomeFirst operates no proprietary technology or API surface. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors led by Board Chair Suresh Bhat, with day-to-day executive leadership under CEO René Ramirez (appointed late 2025, succeeding Andrea Urton) and a C-suite including a CFO, COO, CHRO, CPO, and CDMO. HomeFirst is privately held with no parent company, no equity investors, and no funding rounds; it is supported entirely by operating revenue and charitable contributions.

Name

HomeFirst Services

Legal name

HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County

Website

https://homefirstscc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

HomeFirst Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1980 that provides emergency shelter, interim housing, permanent supportive housing, street outreach, and homelessness prevention across Santa Clara and Sonoma Counties in California, serving 10,000+ individuals annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Homeless services
• Emergency shelter
• Permanent supportive housing
• Housing first approach
• Interim housing programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Milpitas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government contracts and public funding: Major funding from federal, state, county (Santa Clara County, Sonoma County) and municipal government sources, including contracts for emergency shelter operations, interim housing sites (EIH), rapid re-housing, and permanent supportive housing programs.
2. Individual and corporate donations: Charitable contributions from individuals, corporations (e.g., Cisco, Adobe, eBay, KLA Foundation, Western Digital, Apple, Acrisure), and community foundations (Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Sobrato Family Foundation), processed via DonorPerfect, DAF Direct, and Fidelity Charitable.
3. Foundation grants: Grants from private and community foundations including Housing Industry Foundation, Impact100 Sonoma, and Sonoma County Homeless Coalition.
4. Special event fundraising: Revenue from signature fundraising events such as the Iron Pants Fundraising Tournament, Beers & Bows, and the 45th Anniversary benefit, supported by corporate sponsorships (Pivot Interiors, Star One Credit Union, Griffis Residential, XL Construction, etc.).
5. Rental and property income: Income from owned or operated residential properties, including affordable housing units such as Iamesi Village (in partnership with First Community Housing) and the Labath Landing community in Rohnert Park (with DignityMoves).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HomeFirst Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides shelter and housing programs for individuals and families experiencing homelessness across Santa Clara County and Sonoma County, California. The organization delivers emergency shelter, interim/transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing services under the Housing First model, prioritizing immediate placement into stable housing without preconditions.

Product overview

HomeFirst Services is a single unified nonprofit organization (rather than a software platform) delivering a portfolio of housing and homeless services across Santa Clara County and Sonoma County. The offering is structured around a continuum of housing services: Emergency Shelters (Boccardo Reception Center and Gilroy Shelter), Emergency Interim Housing (EIH Bernal, Rue Ferrari, Arena, First Street, Via Del Oro, Mabury, and Felipe), Permanent Supportive Housing (Boccardo Family Living Center, Sobrato Family Living Center, Sobrato House, Iamesi Village, Mesa Terrace, Markham Plaza, and Solaire Apartments), and Sonoma-based Labath Landing. Layered on top are targeted programs including Veteran Services (GPD and SSVF), Outreach Services (TOEP, Citywide, Valley Water, Petaluma, and Sonoma Valley), the TAY Transition Aged Youth Program, Rapid Rehousing (RRH), the Homelessness Prevention System (HPS), Keep People Housed - Sonoma Valley, the Coordinated Entry System, the By-Name-List (BNL), the Special Homeless Populations initiative, and Inclement Weather Programs (CWSP and Overnight Warming Locations). Cross-cutting programs include the Kit Builds volunteer engagement program, the CARE companion-animal support fund, the Home Is Where the Art Is (HIWTAI) arts program, and the Legacy Giving planned-giving program. Together these services form HomeFirst's full spectrum of housing, prevention, outreach, and supportive services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CARE: A HomeFirst fund that provides rapid, flexible assistance for essentials (veterinary care, food, grooming, documentation, temporary boarding) to protect the bond between people experiencing homelessness and their companion animals.

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter

Quantifiable outcome

• Impacted over 10,000 individuals in FY24 (ending June 30, 2024)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Pivot InteriorsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPivot Interiors hosted a HomeFirst fundraising/community event at 3355 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA, and is listed as a corporate sponsor and venue partner for HomeFirst initiatives.
• Star One Credit UnionflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerStar One Credit Union is listed as a corporate sponsor of HomeFirst Services fundraising events and programs.
• Griffis ResidentialcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGriffis Residential is listed as a corporate sponsor supporting HomeFirst events and initiatives.
• XL ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerXL Construction is listed as a corporate sponsor and construction partner supporting HomeFirst site development and renovation projects.
• eBaycoreGTM or Marketing PartnereBay is listed as a corporate sponsor supporting HomeFirst fundraising events and programs.
• CiscocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCisco is listed as a corporate sponsor of HomeFirst programs and events, and participated in volunteer kit build activities.
• AdobecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdobe is listed as a corporate sponsor and volunteer engagement partner for HomeFirst kit builds.
• KLA FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKLA Foundation participated as a volunteer kit build partner supporting HomeFirst's service programs.
• Western DigitalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWestern Digital is listed as a volunteer kit build partner supporting HomeFirst programs.
• KeyPoint Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKeyPoint Credit Union is listed as a volunteer kit build partner supporting HomeFirst programs.
• City of San JoseflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeFirst partners with the City of San Jose on COVID-19 emergency response, opening 175 additional shelter beds in February 2020, and on shelter site operations and Office of Cultural Affairs collaborations.
• City of Rohnert ParkflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Rohnert Park partnered with HomeFirst and DignityMoves to develop the Labath Landing interim housing community in Sonoma County.
• Santa Clara County Housing AuthorityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Santa Clara County Housing Authority is listed as a sponsor and partner supporting HomeFirst's housing programs and voucher utilization.
• Destination HomeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDestination Home is a sponsor and systems-leadership partner supporting HomeFirst's community-wide efforts to end homelessness in Santa Clara County.
• DignityMovesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDignityMoves co-developed the Labath Landing interim housing community in Rohnert Park with HomeFirst and the City of Rohnert Park.
• Housing Industry Foundation (HIF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing Industry Foundation is a renovation and funding partner supporting HomeFirst's facility improvements and housing projects.
• GreystarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreystar is a renovation and property management partner supporting HomeFirst's housing site work.
• First Community HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Community Housing is the owner of Iamesi Village, an affordable housing community developed in partnership with HomeFirst.
• Valley Homeless Healthcare Program (VHHP)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVHHP partnered with HomeFirst during the COVID-19 response to deliver healthcare services to sheltered individuals.
• Gardner Health ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGardner Health Services was a COVID-19 response partner providing healthcare services alongside HomeFirst.
• Martha's KitchencoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMartha's Kitchen is a meal service partner providing food at HomeFirst shelters and programs.
• Hunger at HomecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHunger at Home is a meal service partner providing food at HomeFirst shelters and programs.
• FlightsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFlights is a commercial food provider partner supporting HomeFirst's meal programs.
• Sonoma Applied Village Services (SAVS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAVS is a Sonoma County partner supporting HomeFirst's local housing and village service initiatives.
• Bellarmine College PreparatoryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBellarmine College Preparatory is a community/school partner supporting HomeFirst through volunteer engagement and donations.
• San Jose Water (SJW)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSan Jose Water is a corporate sponsor and community partner supporting HomeFirst programs.
• AcrisurecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAcrisure is a corporate sponsor supporting HomeFirst fundraising events.
• AVT ProductionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAVT Productions is a sponsor/production partner supporting HomeFirst events.
• Order of MaltaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrder of Malta is a community/philanthropic sponsor supporting HomeFirst programs.
• UA Local Union 393minorGTM or Marketing PartnerUA Local Union 393 (plumbers/pipefitters union) is a sponsor supporting HomeFirst's mission.
• Paycom

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hamilton Families: San Francisco-based nonprofit operating emergency shelter, transitional housing, and rapid rehousing programs primarily for families experiencing homelessness. Comparable service model with a strong family-focused segment similar to HomeFirst's family housing programs.
• LifeMoves: Silicon Valley's largest homeless services provider historically, operating emergency shelters, interim housing, and supportive services across multiple Bay Area counties. Directly comparable service mix and Bay Area footprint to HomeFirst, with overlapping beneficiary populations.
• Compass Family Services: San Francisco-based nonprofit offering emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services for families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Comparable service mix with strong alignment to HomeFirst's family-focused programs.
• PATH (People Assisting The Homeless): California-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, interim housing, permanent supportive housing, and rapid rehousing with a Housing First model. Operates a comparable continuum-of-care service delivery model across Southern California, serving as a direct operational peer to HomeFirst's Santa Clara/Sonoma footprint.
• LAMP Community: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing supportive housing, interim housing, and street outreach under a Housing First framework. Comparable California-scale homeless services operator with a similar continuum of care and case management model.
• Larkin Street Youth Services: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing housing and supportive services for transition-aged youth (TAY, ages 18-25) experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable to HomeFirst's TAY program, Sobrato House THP, and youth-focused housing offerings.
• Abode Services: Fremont, California-based nonprofit providing supportive housing, interim housing, homeless prevention, and rapid rehousing across Alameda and Santa Clara counties. Direct regional competitor in the Bay Area homeless services continuum.

Regional players

• MidPen Housing: Bay Area affordable housing developer and operator managing thousands of affordable rental units across Northern California, including supportive housing. Comparable real estate-intensive housing model with similar geographic overlap in the Bay Area.
• Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County: Regional faith-based nonprofit operating in the same Santa Clara County geography as HomeFirst, providing a broader portfolio of social services including housing-related programs. Competes for overlapping government funding and donor base in the same county.

Others

• Destination: Home: Santa Clara County public-private partnership funder and convener focused on ending homelessness, partnering with HomeFirst and other providers. Not a direct operator, but a key funding and systems-leadership partner in HomeFirst's ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ehclifebuilders
• Facebookfacebook.com/ehclifebuilders
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/homefirst-services-of-santa-clara-county
• Instagraminstagram.com/homefirstservices_scc
• Xx.com/homefirstscc

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries14 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 HomeFirst Services