Homeless Alliance of Western New York

What Homeless Alliance of Western New York does

The Homeless Alliance of Western New York (HAWNY) is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1992 in Buffalo, NY, operating as the HUD-designated Continuum of Care (CoC) Lead Agency and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Lead for the NY-508 service region, which spans Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties. The organization coordinates the regional homelessness response system across a network of 65+ partner service agencies and is responsible for CoC funding allocation, HUD compliance, system performance measurement, and the Coordinated Entry assessment and referral process. In its most recent reporting year, HAWNY reports 1,339 individuals successfully housed, 6,131 clients connected to essential services, and $23.7 million in resources secured for the region.

HAWNY's core technology stack centers on HMIS WNY, the regional Homeless Management Information System operated via WellSky ServicePoint, which collects, shares, and reports client-level data on individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This is paired with a Coordinated Entry system using the VI-SPDAT vulnerability assessment (OrgCode Consulting) and a By-Name List prioritization workflow, with a self-service HMIS Knowledge Base for partner training. Supporting products include the annual CoC funding competition (RFP, Rank & Review, technical assistance), quarterly and annual performance reporting (SPM, LSA), Point-in-Time and Housing Inventory Counts, the Membership Program, and the Continuum Chronicle newsletter. Integration partners include PayPal for donations, Adobe Acrobat Signature for HMIS user onboarding, Google Forms for event registration, Amazon Wish List for in-kind donations, and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library as a co-host for community events.

The revenue model is heavily grant-funded, with federal HUD Continuum of Care grants and New York State supportive housing programs representing the primary funding streams; the organization claims to generate $16 in value for every dollar received in donations. Secondary revenue includes individual and corporate donations, tiered annual membership dues from partner agencies ($175–$325), and fundraising events. Services to individuals experiencing homelessness are provided free of charge; pricing is structured around organizational membership tiers and event tickets. The customer base is split between (1) end beneficiaries (homeless individuals and families in the five-county region) and (2) B2B partner organizations (nonprofits, government agencies, housing providers) that participate in the CoC and access HMIS.

Name

Homeless Alliance of Western New York

Legal name

Homeless Alliance of Western New York

Website

https://wnyhomeless.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Homeless Alliance of Western New York is a nonprofit coordinating regional homelessness response across five Western New York counties as the HUD-designated Continuum of Care and HMIS Lead for NY-508. It operates HMIS WNY data infrastructure, Coordinated Entry, and supports 65+ partner agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Services Coordination

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIANAC

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Housing, Urban Planning & Community Development

SECONDARYBPAGALAC

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Enterprises & Impact Organizations

Keywords

• Homeless services coordination
• Continuum of care
• Homeless management information system
• Coordinated entry
• Regional housing coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Buffalo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal and State Government Grants: Primary funding source from HUD Continuum of Care grants and New York State supportive housing programs. The organization coordinates and allocates approximately $23.7 million in resources annually to combat homelessness across the five-county region.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: Donations from individuals and corporations supporting the organization's mission. The organization generates $16 in value for every dollar received.
3. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from partner organizations: $175 for agencies with gross revenues under $1M, $275 for $1-5M, and $325 for agencies over $5M.
4. Fundraising Events: Revenue from fundraising events such as meat raffles and community events that engage the broader WNY community in supporting homeless services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

As the HUD-designated Continuum of Care (CoC) Lead Agency and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Lead Agency for NY-508, HAWNY coordinates the regional homeless response system across Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties. The organization administers the HMIS WNY database, operates the Coordinated Entry system, runs the annual CoC Funding Competition, produces quarterly Performance Reports, and conducts the annual Point-in-Time Count and Housing Inventory Count. It also sustains a tiered membership program for the 65+ partner agencies that deliver direct homeless services in the region.

Product overview

The Homeless Alliance of Western New York (HAWNY) is a nonprofit CoC Lead Agency offering a suite of interconnected programs and tools for the Western New York homelessness response system. Its core offerings are HMIS WNY — a regional Homeless Management Information System operated via WellSky ServicePoint for data collection and client tracking — and the Coordinated Entry (CE) program — a No Wrong Door assessment and prioritization system using the VI-SPDAT tool. These are supported by the CoC Funding Competition (managing HUD CoC grants), Performance Reporting (quarterly and annual HMIS-derived reports), Point-in-Time and Housing Inventory Counts, and community engagement tools including a membership program, HMIS Knowledge Base, and the Continuum Chronicle newsletter. The organization also produces annual reports, health studies, and a strategic plan. All offerings collectively serve the five-county NY-508 Continuum of Care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HMIS WNY Regional Homeless Management Information System serving partner agencies across Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties. Built on the WellSky ServicePoint platform, it provides centralized data collection, client tracking, and reporting functionality for 65+ partner agencies and serves as the data backbone for HUD compliance and the FY2023 CoC funding competition of $23.7 million.
• Coordinated Entry Program Centralized assessment and prioritization system for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the five-county region, using the VI-SPDAT tool to ensure equitable access to housing and shelter resources regardless of entry point. Operates on a No Wrong Door basis through partner agency access points.
• CoC Funding Competition Annual Continuum of Care funding competition administered by HAWNY for the NY-508 region. In FY2023 the competition secured $23.7 million to combat homelessness across the five-county service area, distributing federal HUD CoC resources to partner agencies that deliver direct homeless services.
• Membership Program Tiered annual membership program for partner agencies, with dues ranging from $175 to $325 based on agency revenue. Provides member benefits including HMIS participation, governance voice in the CoC, access to training, and inclusion in the regional partner network of 65+ agencies.
• Performance Reports Quarterly performance reports on the regional homeless response system, providing partner agencies, funders, and the public with system-level data on housing placements, program exits, length of stay, and recidivism. Backed by the regional HMIS WNY dashboard.
• Point-in-Time Count and Housing Inventory Count Annual sheltered and unsheltered Point-in-Time (PIT) Count and Housing Inventory Count (HIC) conducted across the five-county region. Provides required HUD data on the extent of homelessness and the region's housing inventory for people experiencing homelessness.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,339 individuals successfully housed in the most recent reporting year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• Supportive Housing Network of New York (SHNNY)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025The Supportive Housing Network of New York is the state's leading membership organization and largest supportive housing advocacy organization in the nation, representing over 200 nonprofit organizations and more than 64,000 supportive housing units statewide. The Homeless Alliance joined as the newest member of this statewide coalition in December 2025, enabling collaboration with supportive housing developers, advocates, and policymakers across New York State to advance permanent housing solutions.
• Buffalo & Erie County Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to host community screening and discussion events on homelessness topics. The library provides venue access for Coordinated Entry services and community events including the No Place to Grow Old documentary screening on July 22, 2026.
• Rich ProductsminorOthersGold Sponsor of the 20th Anniversary Luncheon celebration.
• Spectrum HealthminorOthersGold Sponsor of the 20th Anniversary Luncheon celebration.
• Cazenovia RecoveryminorOthersSilver Sponsor of the 20th Anniversary Luncheon celebration.
• Community MissionsminorOthersSilver Sponsor of the 20th Anniversary Luncheon celebration.
• Delaware NorthminorOthersSilver Sponsor of the 20th Anniversary Luncheon celebration.
• MM DevelopmentminorOthersSilver Sponsor of the 20th Anniversary Luncheon celebration.
• Rental Assistance CorporationminorOthersSilver Sponsor of the 20th Anniversary Luncheon celebration.
• Neighborhood Health CenterminorOthersBronze Sponsor of the 20th Anniversary Luncheon celebration.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless: Statewide Massachusetts coalition focused on preventing and ending homelessness through advocacy, direct service support, and HUD-aligned programs. Functions as a CoC-supporting organization in the same mid-Atlantic/Northeast policy environment as HAWNY.
• All Chicago, Inc. Nonprofit CoC Lead Agency serving Chicago and Cook County, IL. Operates the HMIS and Coordinated Entry system for the region and performs the same HUD-designated coordination role as HAWNY at a comparable mid-size urban scale.
• King County Coalition on Homelessness: Regional coalition serving Seattle/King County, Washington. Acts as a convener of service providers, advocates, and government agencies around homelessness response — closely aligned in structure with HAWNY's five-county Western New York coalition model.
• Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA): HUD-designated Continuum of Care Lead Agency for the LA region. Performs the same core functions as HAWNY: CoC coordination, HMIS administration, funding competition management, and system performance oversight at a larger metropolitan scale.
• Supportive Housing Network of New York (SHNNY): The statewide supportive housing membership and advocacy organization that HAWNY just joined in December 2025. Represents 200+ nonprofit organizations and 64,000+ supportive housing units across NY, making it a direct peer in coordinating CoC-aligned responses at the state level.
• Houston Coalition for the Homeless: The CoC Lead Agency for the Houston/Harris County region in Texas, running a similar regional coordination model with HUD CoC funding competition management, HMIS operation, and multi-county homeless response oversight analogous to HAWNY's NY-508 role.

Broad incumbents

• San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing: Government-run CoC Lead Agency for San Francisco. Comparable in that it coordinates the region's HUD CoC funding, HMIS, and Coordinated Entry system, though operating as a city government entity rather than a nonprofit coalition like HAWNY.
• National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH): The leading national nonpartisan organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in the US. Operates at a federal advocacy and research scale, overlapping with HAWNY in CoC program oversight, Homelessness Data Center publications, and policy research priorities.
• Community Solutions: National nonprofit running the Built for Zero initiative to drive cities and counties to measurably end homelessness. Comparable in mission and CoC-aligned methodology (By-Name Lists, system coordination), though Community Solutions operates as a national initiative rather than a single-region CoC lead.
• Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH): National nonprofit intermediary that provides financing, technical assistance, and policy advocacy to advance supportive housing. Operates at a broader, national scale than HAWNY but overlaps heavily on CoC-supporting functions such as training, data tools, and HUD-aligned program design.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@wnyhomeless
• Facebookfacebook.com/wnyhomeless.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/homeless-alliance-of-western-new-york
• Instagraminstagram.com/homelessallianceofwny
• Xx.com/hawny716

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Homeless Alliance of Western New York