Depaul International

What Depaul International does

Depaul International is a UK-registered international charity (Charity No. 1107385; Company Limited by Guarantee No. 5245818) that operates as the parent organization for a group of homelessness charities delivering services in eight countries: the UK, Ireland, the United States, France, Slovakia, Ukraine, Croatia, and the Philippines. Founded in London in 1989 by Mark McGreevy OBE at the intersection of the Daughters of Charity, the Society of St Vincent de Paul, and the Passage, the organization is rooted in the 400-year-old Vincentian tradition. It runs a portfolio of core services including emergency accommodation (Nightstop UK, St Vincent's emergency nightshelter in Bratislava), supported housing under the Housing First model, day centres, mobile hygiene services (Mobil'douche in France), street outreach, children's centres, and humanitarian aid distribution. Subsidiary-level delivery is complemented by two strategic platforms: the Ruff Institute for Global Homelessness (co-founded with De Paul University in Chicago) for research and policy, and the Famvin Homeless Alliance (integrated into Depaul on 1 January 2026) for Vincentian Family coordination across approximately 70-80 countries.

The organization's business model is donation-funded, with revenue drawn from individual giving (processed via a Donorfy donation portal), corporate partnerships (Spacestor contributes per meeting-space sold; LetterOne is the first major investor in the 2024-2029 strategic plan), trust and foundation grants (including CAFOD for Ukraine), and government and local-authority funding for service-provision contracts. The organization is not a technology company: its core technology stack consists of standard web and donation platforms, with no proprietary platform, no public API, and no disclosed AI/ML capability. Impact reporting (75,900 people supported in 2024; 627,098 bed nights and 10.9 million meals in 2022) is the primary non-financial KPI.

Governance sits with a voluntary Board of Trustees (maximum 12 members, currently chaired by Helen O'Shea) supported by a Senior Management Group of subsidiary CEOs. The HQ team in London comprises 27 staff, with Matthew Carter OBE as Group CEO. The organization is currently navigating a generational leadership transition as founder Mark McGreevy OBE steps back from the Presidency after 36 years.

Name

Depaul International

Legal name

Depaul International

Website

https://int.depaulcharity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Depaul International is a UK-registered international charity that coordinates homelessness services across eight countries, delivering emergency accommodation, supported housing, day centres, and humanitarian aid to people experiencing homelessness globally, funded by donations, corporate partnerships, and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homelessness Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

Keywords

• Homelessness services
• Emergency accommodation
• Supported housing
• Humanitarian aid
• Night shelter operations

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual donations and fundraising: Depaul International raises funds from individual donors through its website donation portal (donorfy platform), fundraising events, and direct appeals such as the Ukraine Return to Hope campaign and Christmas Appeal. Donations from individuals constitute a core revenue stream alongside trust and foundation support.
2. Corporate partnerships and philanthropy: The organization receives support from companies such as Spacestor (which donates per meeting space solution sold) and LetterOne (as an early investor in the 6-year strategic plan). Corporate donors and philanthropists fund specific programmes, housing projects, and advocacy initiatives.
3. Government and institutional funding: Depaul International receives funding from government bodies across the countries in which it operates, including local authorities (for referrals and accommodation services) and international bodies. The organization also receives funding from institutional donors such as CAFOD for specific country programmes such as Ukraine.
4. Strategic partnerships and global advocacy funding: Partnerships with international organizations such as LetterOne fund specific strategic initiatives including the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) pilot across UK, USA, and Ireland, and global advocacy efforts with the UN and multilateral institutions.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Depaul International is an international charity that delivers emergency accommodation, supported housing, day centres, mobile shower services, outreach, and humanitarian aid to people experiencing homelessness across eight countries (UK, Ireland, USA, France, Slovakia, Ukraine, Croatia, and the Philippines). Through its network of locally governed subsidiary charities, it provides Housing First programmes, psychosocial support, children's services, and social enterprise programmes funded entirely by donations from individuals, trusts, foundations, corporate partners, and government bodies.

Product overview

Depaul International operates as a global homelessness charity overseeing subsidiaries in seven countries (UK, Ireland, USA, France, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Croatia). The organization offers an integrated portfolio of services addressing homelessness through emergency accommodation (Nightstop UK, St Vincent's emergency nightshelter), supported housing (Housing First programmes, Onward Home), day centres, mobile hygiene services (Mobil'douche), outreach programmes, and specialized support for children and families. Services operate as distinct but coordinated programmes unified by a housing-led, person-centred approach to ending homelessness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nightstop UK: Depaul's emergency accommodation service that helps find a place to stay tonight for rough sleepers in the UK
• Mobil'douche

Products and services

• Nightstop UK Emergency accommodation service providing a place to stay tonight for young people experiencing homelessness in the UK through host-based overnight stays.
• Supported Accommodation Projects Supported accommodation services for adults and young people, including services for those with complex needs and care leavers, accessed through local authority referrals.
• Mobil'douche Mobile shower service for people living on the street, operating in Paris and Avignon, bringing hygiene facilities to those who need them.
• Day Centres Day centre facilities providing food, psychosocial support, aid distribution, and referral services to people experiencing homelessness across multiple countries.
• Housing First Programme Housing-led approach providing permanent housing with tailored support services, implemented across multiple Depaul countries including Slovakia and Ukraine.
• Outreach Services Street outreach services reaching those experiencing rough sleeping, providing aid, support, and referrals to accommodation and services.
• Children's Centres Child-focused support services providing activities, psychosocial support, and safe spaces for children affected by homelessness, particularly in Ukraine.
• St Vincent's Emergency Nightshelter Emergency overnight shelter in Bratislava, Slovakia, providing immediate accommodation for those experiencing homelessness.
• Onward Home Housing programme in Metro Manila, Philippines, providing 12 months of housing for families experiencing street homelessness, with mental health support, social work assistance, and livelihood training.
• Depaul Slovakia Low-Threshold Night Shelter The largest low-threshold night shelter in central Europe, providing overnight stays and support services in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500,000 people supported globally since 1989
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Famvin Homeless Alliance (FHA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026On 1 January 2026, the Famvin Homeless Alliance became part of Depaul International. Founded in 2017, FHA fosters collaboration and capacity-building across the global Vincentian Family (80 countries), implementing campaigns including the 13 Houses Campaign which has built affordable housing in over 70 countries. The 13 Houses Jubilee project launched in 2024 will provide housing in 13 countries. Depaul International has established a board sub-committee of Vincentian Family members to guide FHA's direction.
• Vincentian Foundation (Philippines)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2025Depaul International partnered with the Vincentian Foundation (Vincentian Missionaries Social Development Foundation) in the Philippines to launch the Onward Home housing programme for families sleeping rough in Metro Manila. The programme provides up to 12 months of housing for 150 children and caregivers, mental health support, and livelihood training.
• Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness (IGH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Depaul International and De Paul University in Chicago, IGH is focused on ending homelessness globally by bridging research, policy, and practice. It runs the Vanguard Program which sees cities and countries (including Uruguay) committing to end or significantly reduce street homelessness. IGH also engages with the UN Deputy Secretary General on global homelessness issues.
• Base Bahay FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBase Bahay Foundation developed cement-bamboo frame technology used to construct climate-resilient housing at Onward Home in Quezon City, Philippines. The housing is built to withstand typhoons, strong winds, and earthquakes — addressing climate vulnerability of homeless populations.
• London Homelessness FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe London Homelessness Foundation participated in the launch conference of Depaul Ukraine's homelessness research report in Kyiv, contributing to international knowledge exchange on homelessness solutions. Delegates engaged in discussions on addressing homelessness in Ukraine.
• Rating Sociological GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted survey research for Depaul Ukraine's homelessness report (April 2026), surveying 1,090 individuals experiencing homelessness across Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Lviv, plus 1,200 general population respondents nationwide in Ukraine.
• Mykhailo Ptoukha Institute for Demography and Quality of Life Research, National Academy of Sciences of UkraineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner for Depaul Ukraine's homelessness analytical report (July 2026), cooperating with Depaul Ukraine and Rating Sociological Group to produce the most comprehensive analysis of homelessness in Ukraine to date.
• Vincentian FamilycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepaul International works within the 400-year-old Vincentian Family network — comprising branches of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul and the Congregation of the Mission — which provides a global network for addressing homelessness. Depaul Philippines is a Vincentian Family initiative and the organization is rooted in Vincentian faith in action traditions.
• Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de PaulcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the founding organizations of Depaul (alongside the Society of St Vincent de Paul and The Passage) in response to young rough sleepers in London in 1989. Sister Carol Keehan DC serves as nominee on the Depaul International Board of Trustees.
• Society of St Vincent de PaulcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of the first Depaul service in 1989. Helen O'Shea was previously the National President of the St Vincent de Paul Society (England and Wales) until 2022. The society is part of the Vincentian Family network.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian NGO operating in 40+ countries with significant humanitarian response in Ukraine; comparable to Depaul Ukraine's humanitarian aid and displacement response, though broader in scope (conflict, climate, food security).
• Caritas Internationalis: Global Catholic humanitarian confederation present in over 200 countries; shares the Catholic/Vincentian faith-based donor base and overlaps with Depaul on humanitarian aid, refugee support, and social services delivery.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Global nonprofit operating in 70+ countries addressing housing for low-income families; comparable to Depaul in its global scale and housing-led mission, though focused on home construction/renovation rather than emergency accommodation.
• The Salvation Army: Global religious charity operating shelters, social services, and humanitarian programs in over 130 countries; overlaps with Depaul in homeless accommodation, addiction recovery, and emergency relief, with a significantly larger operational footprint.

Direct peers

• Crisis UK: UK national homelessness charity delivering housing, education, and advocacy services; directly comparable to Depaul UK in mission, services, and beneficiary population, with comparable annual scale.
• Emmaus International: Global federation of homelessness charities running companion communities and social enterprises in dozens of countries; directly comparable to Depaul's model of providing housing, work, and community to people experiencing homelessness.
• Shelter (UK): UK-based charity focused on housing and homelessness; like Depaul UK, it combines direct service delivery with national policy advocacy and is one of the largest pure-play homelessness charities in the UK market.
• National Alliance to End Homelessness (US): US-based nonprofit intermediary providing research, advocacy, and capacity-building to homelessness services; comparable to the Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness which Depaul co-founded, and a key policy actor in Depaul USA's operating geography.
• Society of St Vincent de Paul: International Catholic charitable society that co-founded Depaul in 1989; operates Vincentian homelessness and poverty services across many of the same countries, sharing the 400-year-old Vincentian tradition and overlapping donor base.

Regional players

• Hennepin Healthcare Homelessness programs / Heading Home Hennepin: US regional homelessness coalition focused on ending homelessness in Hennepin County/Minneapolis; comparable to Depaul USA's locally-led subsidiary model delivering Housing First and outreach services at city/regional level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/depaulintl.bsky.social
• Facebookfacebook.com/depaulintl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/depaul-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Depaul International