JVS Human Services

What JVS Human Services does

JVS Human Services, now operating as Gesher Human Services, is a private nonprofit human services organization founded in 1941 and headquartered in Southfield, Michigan. The organization serves metro Detroit residents across Oakland County and Wayne County, providing an integrated portfolio of programs spanning career development and employment services, residential and supportive housing for people with disabilities, community integration programs, HUD-certified homebuyer education, financial wellness workshops, computer skills training, and creative arts programs. In the prior year, the organization reported helping more than 34,000 individuals and families. Aubrey Macfarlane serves as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President.

The organization operates a direct-service delivery model with both in-person offerings at its Southfield office and community venues, and virtual programs delivered via Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: government contracts and grants funding disability services, behavioral health, and workforce development; fee-for-service programs such as the Homebuyer Education course ($50 per household, MSHDA-approved); and individual donations and philanthropic fundraising. CARF accreditation and HUD-certified counseling credentials support eligibility for regulated funding and partnership channels. Key institutional partners include the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (annual Capstone Event), MSHDA, Temple Beth El, and Jewish Family Development.

The business model is that of a community-anchored nonprofit rather than a technology platform. No proprietary technology stack, AI/ML capabilities, or patents are evident. The competitive position rests on eight decades of community trust, professional accreditations, a multi-segment referral network spanning employers, healthcare providers, and housing agencies, and an integrated "work, home, community" service model that increases client lifetime engagement. Recent activity has emphasized expanding virtual delivery, launching dementia care programming, and pursuing operational scaling via new vendor relationships.

Name

JVS Human Services

Legal name

Gesher Human Services

Website

https://jvshumanservices.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Gesher Human Services (formerly JVS Human Services) is a Southfield, Michigan-based nonprofit founded in 1941 that provides career development, residential services for people with disabilities, community integration, financial education, and arts programs to metro Detroit residents, serving 34,000+ individuals annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Support Services & Case Management (Coaching, Wraparound) (EDAAAOAK), Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI), Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI)

Keywords

• Human services programs
• Career development services
• Residential disability services
• Community integration programs
• Financial education workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Southfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Service Fees: Fee-for-service programs including Homebuyer Education ($50/household) and other educational/workshop programs
2. Government Contracts and Grants: Funded by public sources for human services programs including disability services, behavioral health, and workforce development
3. Donations and Philanthropy: Individual donations and fundraising to support program operations for community members

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

JVS Human Services (operating as Gesher Human Services) provides career development and employment placement, residential and supportive housing for people with disabilities, community integration and enrichment activities, HUD-certified homebuyer education, financial wellness workshops, an open computer lab, and creative arts programs to metro Detroit residents. Programs are delivered both in-person at the Southfield office and virtually via Zoom and Microsoft Teams, serving job seekers, people with disabilities, older adults, and the general community.

Product overview

Gesher Human Services is a nonprofit human services organization offering a portfolio of social service programs focused on improving quality of life and livelihood for people across metro Detroit. The organization operates as a single-platform social services provider with multiple interconnected programs including Careers & Employment (career development and job placement), Residential Services (supportive housing for people with disabilities), Community Integration (enrichment activities), Financial Education (HUD-certified homebuyer education and financial therapy), Computer Skills Training (Open Computer Lab), and Creative Arts Programs. These programs are designed to address needs at work, at home, and in the community, serving diverse populations including job seekers, people with disabilities, older adults, and the broader community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Careers & Employment Career development and employment services that help people across metro Detroit find personal fulfillment and financial stability through meaningful employment, including job training, career counseling, employment placement, and job search assistance.
• Residential Services Supportive housing and care services for people with disabilities across metro Detroit, delivered by trained professionals, including residential programs and community integration support.
• Community Integration Enrichment programs and activities that help people across metro Detroit get involved in their community, including arts programs, volunteer opportunities, and social engagement events.
• Homebuyer Education Program HUD-certified homebuyer education covering the entire home-buying process, including credit education, mortgage qualification, mortgage terminology, proper home maintenance, and foreclosure prevention. Approved for the MSHDA Down Payment Assistance Program; $50 fee per household.
• Financial Peace of Mind: Money Wellness and Financial Therapy Series Financial therapy workshop series addressing financial trauma, money scripts, mental and physical health impacts of financial stress, cultivating financial wellbeing, and healing from financial trauma.
• Open Computer Lab Free computer skills enhancement program providing a relaxed, supportive environment for working on projects and receiving tech assistance; held every Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Southfield office.
• Creative Expressions Arts program featuring artwork created by participants, including annual performances with Detroit Symphony Orchestra musicians at the Capstone Event.
• Business Solutions Services for employers and businesses to access workforce development and employment support resources, including employee support programs and disability services for employers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 34,000+ individuals helped annually

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Detroit Symphony OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 2026Annual Capstone Event partnership featuring DSO musicians performing alongside Creative Expressions program participants. Showcases artistic programs and community integration outcomes.
• MSHDA (Michigan State Housing Development Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSHDA Down Payment Assistance Program approval for Homebuyer Education classes. HUD-certified counselors provide approved education curriculum.
• Temple Beth ElminorOthersCommunity venue partner hosting Capstone Event 2026 at their Bloomfield Hills location.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Arc Michigan: Michigan chapter of a national disability advocacy and services network; comparable focus on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, community integration, and supported living.
• Hope Network: Michigan-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, disability services, workforce development, and housing support across the state; direct competitor and peer in Gesher's home market.
• Peckham Industries: Michigan-based nonprofit focused on workforce development and supported employment for people with disabilities; operates a similar mission-priority mix to Gesher's disability and employment programs.
• Jewish Vocational Service of Chicago (JVS Chicago): Chicago-based sister JVS organization offering career services, workforce development, and refugee/immigrant support; highly comparable given shared Jewish Vocational Service heritage with Gesher and similar employment-focused mission.
• Jewish Family Service of Detroit: Detroit-based human services agency with shared Jewish-community heritage; serves overlapping populations including older adults and families, and competes for similar donor and grant dollars.
• Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit: Detroit-area Goodwill operating job training, employment placement, and disability services; directly competes for the same job-seeker and employer-facing workforce contracts.
• America Works: National workforce development and employment placement provider serving job seekers, including those with barriers to employment; competes for the same employer-facing and job-seeker contracts.
• Jewish Vocational Service of San Francisco (JVS): Long-standing JVS affiliate providing workforce development, career coaching, and social services in the Bay Area; directly comparable operating model and mission lineage to the original JVS Human Services.
• Easter Seals Michigan: Statewide disability services nonprofit offering employment support, residential, and community integration programs; comparable service portfolio and contract-based revenue model.

Broad incumbents

• Volunteers of America Michigan: Large national-affiliated human services organization operating behavioral health, housing, and workforce programs in Michigan; comparable service breadth but at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/jvsdetroit
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@geshermi
• Facebookfacebook.com/jvshumanservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/geshermi
• Instagraminstagram.com/geshermi

Compliance1 record

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 JVS Human Services