Open Arms Housing
Open Arms Housing is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit founded in 1997 that provides permanent supportive housing under a Housing First model to over 400 women and families experiencing chronic homelessness, funded by DC government contracts and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Open Arms Housing does
Open Arms Housing is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit founded in 1997 that provides permanent supportive housing (PSH) to women and families experiencing chronic homelessness, including those affected by serious mental illness. The organization operates a Housing First model with low-barrier access, meaning residents are not required to accept treatment as a condition of housing, and supplements housing with on-site and mobile case management, harm reduction, peer specialists, benefits enrollment, and life-skills support.
Service delivery is structured around three program lines: owned single-site apartments (the Dunbar, opened 2009, and Owen House, opened 2015), scattered-site housing units distributed across the District under contract with the DC Department of Human Services (since 2017), and a private-public PSH partnership program that uses the DC Department of Housing and Community Development's Inclusionary Zoning Program to access set-aside units in developer-built projects such as Ainger Place, South Capitol, and the forthcoming Kenilworth Courts redevelopment. Reported outcomes include serving over 400 women and families and a 95% housing stability rate.
The business model is nonprofit and not commercial: services are provided free to residents, and operating support is funded through DC government contracts (DC DHS and DC DHCD) alongside diversified donations including individual giving, stock and securities gifts, workplace giving via United Way and the Combined Federal Campaign (#51198), legacy and planned gifts, and Facebook fundraising. The organization is led by President and CEO Arthur L. Cutler II and governed by an independent board, with no parent company, subsidiaries, or public-market listing.
Open Arms Housing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Open Arms Housing
- Legal name
- Open Arms Housing
- Website
- https://openarmshousing.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Open Arms Housing is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit founded in 1997 that provides permanent supportive housing under a Housing First model to over 400 women and families experiencing chronic homelessness, funded by DC government contracts and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Open Arms Housing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Permanent Supportive Housing Services
- NAICS
- Community Housing Services (62422), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Other Community Housing Services (624229)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)
Keywords
Where Open Arms Housing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Open Arms Housing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through the organization's website portal, with options for one-time and recurring donations to support housing services for women and families.
- Stock and Securities Donations: Donors can gift appreciated stocks, bonds, or mutual funds; the total value upon transfer is tax-deductible with no capital gains tax obligation.
- Workplace Giving Programs: Partnerships with employers for workplace giving campaigns including United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (#51198), allowing employees to designate donations.
- Legacy/Planned Gifts: Planned giving options that benefit both donors and the organization through techniques such as bequests and charitable remainder trusts.
- Government Contracts: Contracts with DC Department of Human Services and DC Department of Housing and Community Development for providing permanent supportive housing services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Open Arms Housing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Open Arms Housing provides permanent supportive housing and case management services to women and families experiencing chronic homelessness in Washington D.C. The organization operates single-site apartments, scattered-site housing units, and private-public partnership housing under a Housing First low-barrier model that does not condition housing on acceptance of treatment services.
Product overview
Open Arms Housing is a nonprofit organization operating a single unified housing services platform focused on permanent supportive housing for women and families experiencing chronic homelessness in Washington D.C. The organization provides three interconnected housing programs: (1) Permanent Supportive Housing Program as the core service, (2) Scattered-Site Housing offering flexible units across the city, and (3) Single-Site Apartments at dedicated facilities (Dunbar, Owen House). The Private-Public PSH Partnership Program extends reach through developer collaborations. Additional services include volunteer programs and multiple donation/fundraising channels. All programs utilize a Housing First low-barrier approach with case management, harm reduction, and person-centered support services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Permanent Supportive Housing Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% housing stability rate - residents remain in permanent housing without returning to homelessness
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Open Arms Housing
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Open Arms Housing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Open Arms Housing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- District of Columbia Housing AuthoritycorePartner in Kenilworth Courts redevelopment project with multiple phases, eventually totaling 512 affordable units with 17 PSH units.
- The Michaels OrganizationcoreDevelopment partner for Ainger Place Apartments, a 72-unit affordable multifamily housing development incorporating 8 PSH units for women and families.
- Capital Federation Council (CFC)minorCFC is a trusted partnership shown in the logos section, indicating a collaborative relationship for campaign or fundraising purposes.
- United WayminorUnited Way workplace campaign partnership allowing employees to designate Open Arms as their charity of choice through workplace giving programs.
- DC Department of Human ServicescoreContract partner for scattered-site housing program since 2017, providing housing units across the city with supportive services.
- DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)corePartner through Inclusionary Zoning Program for private-public PSH partnership program, collaborating with developers to set aside affordable housing units.
- Ainger Place Development CorporationcorePartnership with responsible developers dedicated to homeless eradication through the Private-Public PSH Partnership Program.
- The Warrenton GroupminorPartner in the Kenilworth Courts redevelopment project for community housing development.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Open Arms Housing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Coalition for the Homeless (NYC): Large national-scale homelessness services and advocacy organization with permanent housing programs; comparable on PSH operating model though broader in scope and serving mixed populations.
- The Salvation Army: Large national nonprofit operating housing, shelter, and supportive services across the U.S. including D.C. Comparable in mission and PSH offerings but much broader scope and population served.
- Corporation for Supportive Housing: National intermediary advancing supportive housing policy, financing, and operations; also represented on Open Arms' Board. Broadly comparable operating model though more policy/financing-focused than direct service.
- Catholic Charities USA: Large national nonprofit network providing housing, shelter, and supportive services across many jurisdictions. Overlaps with Open Arms on housing services and government contracting, though vastly larger and more diversified.
Direct peers
- House of Ruth: D.C.-based nonprofit providing housing and supportive services for women and families experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and poverty. Directly comparable on women-and-family PSH focus within the same geography.
- Pathways to Housing DC: Affiliated with the national Pathways to Housing, an originator of the Housing First model, providing scattered-site PSH in Washington D.C. Highly comparable on low-barrier Housing First methodology and target population.
- Miriam's Kitchen: D.C.-based nonprofit providing meals, housing navigation, and permanent supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. Comparable Housing First philosophy and D.C. government contracting model.
- N Street Village: Washington D.C.-based nonprofit providing housing and supportive services specifically for homeless and low-income women. Directly comparable in mission, geography, and target population to Open Arms Housing.
- Community of Hope: Washington D.C. nonprofit operating family-focused housing programs including permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing, with deep DC DHS/DHCD relationships. Direct peer in PSH model and family-serving focus.
- SOME (So Others Might Eat): D.C.-based nonprofit offering comprehensive services including permanent supportive housing, case management, and workforce development for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and poverty. Overlaps significantly on PSH model and D.C. government contracts.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Open Arms Housing social profiles
Digital presenceOpen Arms Housing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Open Arms Housing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Open Arms Housing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Open Arms Housing 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 Open Arms Housing
What does Open Arms Housing do?
Open Arms Housing provides permanent supportive housing and case management services to women and families experiencing chronic homelessness in Washington D.C. The organization operates single-site apartments, scattered-site housing units, and private-public partnership housing under a Housing First low-barrier model that does not condition housing on acceptance of treatment services.
Is Open Arms Housing a public or private company?
Open Arms Housing is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Open Arms Housing founded?
Open Arms Housing was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Open Arms Housing based?
Open Arms Housing is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Open Arms Housing make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are stock and Securities Donations, workplace Giving Programs, legacy/Planned Gifts and government Contracts.
Who are Open Arms Housing's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Coalition for the Homeless (NYC), The Salvation Army, Corporation for Supportive Housing and Catholic Charities USA. Direct peers are House of Ruth, Pathways to Housing DC, Miriam's Kitchen, N Street Village, Community of Hope and SOME (So Others Might Eat).
Does Open Arms Housing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Open Arms Housing.
What industry is Open Arms Housing in?
Open Arms Housing's product category is Permanent Supportive Housing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAB, Housing Assistance & Homeless Services, with a secondary code of BPAIANAC, Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services. Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.