What Operation Dignity, Inc. does

Operation Dignity, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1993 by Vietnam veteran Alex McElree in Oakland, California, operating the largest VA Grant and Per Diem transitional housing program for veterans in the Bay Area. The organization delivers a full continuum of homeless services across Alameda County, including veteran emergency shelter at the House of Dignity (54-unit converted SRO), mobile street outreach across Oakland, Emeryville, and Alameda, transitional housing at Dignity Commons, Dignity Village, and Ashby House, and permanent supportive housing at the Inn at Temescal, Inn at the Coliseum, Casa Arabella, Loro Landing, Corsair Flats, and Shinsei Gardens/Stargell Commons. It also operates the Community Cabins low-barrier shelter program in partnership with the City of Oakland across three sites sheltering 120+ people nightly. Programs apply evidence-based methodologies (Housing First, Harm Reduction, Trauma-Informed Care, Progressive Engagement) and achieve 75-83% veteran placement into permanent housing, exceeding the VA's 65% goal. In FY23, the organization served more than 1,500 people, including 200+ veterans housed annually, with 25,000 harm reduction supplies distributed and 91 transitional beds for veterans.

The organization's technology footprint is modest and sector-standard: client data is tracked through the Alameda Countywide InHOUSE Homeless Management Information System (Alameda HMIS), with no proprietary AI, machine learning, or differentiated platform architecture. Service delivery is anchored on physical housing assets, daily field outreach to encampments, and case management. Funding flows through five principal streams: (1) government grants and contracts from the VA (GPD), HUD, FEMA, California Housing and Community Development (Homekey), Alameda County, and the Cities of Oakland, Alameda, and Emeryville, which provide per-diem reimbursement and contracted service payments; (2) individual donations structured as monthly recurring giving tiers ($10-$100/month); (3) corporate and foundation grants from Apple, Google, Netflix, Lockheed Martin, Wells Fargo, Safeway Foundation, California Healthcare Foundation, and others; (4) volunteer and in-kind contributions from corporate volunteer programs (Google, Flexport, IBEW Local 595, Fennemore Wendel); and (5) earned revenue through government partnership arrangements. Tax-deductible donations are accepted via website, PayPal Giving Fund, and donor-advised funds at Fidelity, Schwab, and BNY Mellon.

Operation Dignity operates 13 sites across Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, Emeryville, and San Leandro, with a 76-person staff led since Summer 2024 by Executive Director Timothy Evans following the death of his predecessor Marguerite Bachand. The organization is governed by an independent board chaired by Morgan Clyde, with no parent company or subsidiary entities. Its strategic positioning is that of a regional incumbent in veteran homeless services, with limited geographic expansion appetite beyond Alameda County, a heavy concentration on government contract revenue, and recent material exposure to VA GPD rate reductions that threatened approximately $2.2 million in annual revenue in 2023.

Name

Operation Dignity, Inc.

Legal name

Operation Dignity, Inc.

Website

https://operationdignity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Operation Dignity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 in Oakland, California, providing emergency shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing, and mobile street outreach to homeless veterans and other vulnerable populations across Alameda County, operating the largest VA GPD program in the Bay Area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Services / Social Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Veteran homeless services
• Emergency shelter programs
• Permanent supportive housing
• Street outreach services
• Transitional housing programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland, California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Primary funding from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA GPD program), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), FEMA, California Housing and Community Development Department, Alameda County, City of Oakland, City of Alameda, City of Emeryville, and Oakland Housing Authority. The VA GPD program reimburses providers for each night a veteran is housed.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individual donors, including monthly giving programs. Donors giving $500+ are recognized on the Individual Donors page.
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Funding from private foundations and corporate giving programs including Apple, Google, Netflix, Lockheed Martin, Wells Fargo, Safeway Foundation, and others. Grants support specific programs and operational costs.
4. Volunteer and In-Kind Contributions: Volunteer services for meal preparation, facility maintenance, hygiene kit assembly, and other operational support. Corporate volunteer groups from companies like Google, Flexport, and IBEW Local 595 contribute workdays.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Operation Dignity provides a continuum of homeless services in Alameda County, including emergency shelter, mobile street outreach, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing, targeted primarily at homeless veterans and other vulnerable homeless individuals. The organization operates the House of Dignity shelter, multiple housing properties across Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, and San Leandro, Community Cabins low-barrier shelter sites, and case management/benefits advocacy, with programs delivered through evidence-based practices and government partnerships with the VA, HUD, and local municipalities.

Product overview

Operation Dignity is a nonprofit organization offering a continuum of homeless services in Alameda County, not a unified software product. The organization provides a portfolio of distinct housing and outreach programs including emergency shelter (House of Dignity), mobile street outreach, transitional housing (Dignity Commons, Dignity Village, Ashby House), and permanent supportive housing sites (Inn at Temescal, Inn at the Coliseum, Casa Arabella, Loro Landing, Corsair Flats, Shinsei Gardens, Stargell Commons). The organization also operates the Community Cabins low-barrier shelter program in partnership with the City of Oakland. Programs use evidence-based practices including Harm Reduction, Housing First, Trauma-Informed Care, and Progressive Engagement. Services are delivered through government partnerships with the VA, HUD, and local municipalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• House of Dignity (Veteran Emergency Shelter) Emergency shelter for homeless veterans coming directly from streets or encampments. A former SRO hotel converted to supportive housing in 1997 with 54 units, providing individual rooms with shared facilities, three meals daily 365 days a year, and case management services. Houses more than 100 homeless veterans on a given night.
• Mobile Street Outreach Mobile team providing direct services to homeless individuals in encampments, parks, sidewalks, and underpasses in Oakland, Emeryville, and Alameda, including basic needs supplies (harm reduction supplies, bagged lunches, hygiene kits, blankets, socks, ponchos), case management, service referrals, and transportation assistance. Serves 25–125 people per service day and distributes 25,000 supplies annually.
• Dignity Commons Transitional housing site in Alameda with 28 apartments serving as the only site in the East Bay for veteran parents of either gender with minor children. Operates as part of the permanent supportive housing program portfolio.
• Dignity Village Transitional housing in Alameda with 47 individual units, including five units for homeless youth ages 18–24, seven units for hearing and sight impaired individuals, and 12 ADA-equipped units.
• Ashby House Seven-unit transitional housing facility in Berkeley, the only facility in the Bay Area specifically serving members of the LGBTQ+ veteran community.
• Inn at Temescal 21 studio apartments serving formerly homeless veterans in Oakland, developed through the State Homekey Program in partnership with the City of Oakland and Danco.
• Inn at the Coliseum 36 studio apartments for formerly homeless individuals with chronic mental and physical health conditions in Oakland.
• Casa Arabella Veteran housing project with 20 units in a larger low-income apartment complex in Oakland, developed in partnership with EBALDC and The Unity Council.
• Loro Landing 28 units of veterans housing in San Leandro, operated as part of a larger low-income apartment complex.
• Corsair Flats 30 units of veterans housing in Alameda, part of an apartment complex for low-income seniors.
• Shinsei Gardens and Stargell Commons Two adjacent communities in Alameda providing resident services for 71 low-income families.
• Community Cabins Low-barrier shelter program providing cabin structures at three sites in West Oakland for residents of large encampments, offering shelter, meals, hygiene supplies, and housing navigation services for 120+ people nightly and 200+ unhoused Oaklanders annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of veterans in transitional housing exited to permanent housing in 2023, exceeding VA's 65% goal
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• U.S. Department of Veterans AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partner providing GPD (Grant and Per Diem) program funding for veteran housing. VA reimburses Operation Dignity for each night a veteran is housed. Partnership includes VA Healthcare integration and HUD-VASH voucher coordination for housing placement.
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal housing agency providing funding and Section 8 housing vouchers for veteran housing programs. Works with VA on HUD-VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) program for permanent housing placements.
• City of OaklandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor municipal partner providing funding for street outreach, Community Cabins low-barrier shelter program (managing 3 sites with 120+ capacity), and permanent housing development. Awarded $17M grant for 100+ housing units.
• City of AlamedacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner city for veteran housing at Dignity Commons and Dignity Village, and Rise Up Alameda guaranteed income pilot program.
• City of EmeryvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner city for mobile street outreach program extending coverage to Emeryville homeless population.
• Alameda CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partner providing funding and coordinating homeless services system-wide. Led COVID-19 response efforts for homeless population resulting in less than 2% positive rate out of 7,585 tests.
• Oakland Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic housing authority coordinating Section 8, Shelter + Care, and HUD-VASH vouchers for permanent housing placements of homeless veterans.
• DancocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing developer partner for Homekey project converting former hotel at Inn at Temescal into 21 units of permanent housing for formerly homeless veterans.
• EBALDC (East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity development organization and housing developer partner for Casa Arabella veteran housing project in Oakland.
• The Unity CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity development organization partner for Casa Arabella veteran housing project providing comprehensive services to residents.
• Association for Energy AffordabilitysupportingTechnology or IntegrationEnergy efficiency nonprofit that produced energy model for House of Dignity building, identified efficiency opportunities, and helped compile contractor scope of work for heat pump and water heater system upgrade.
• Carbon Zero BuildingssupportingTechnology or IntegrationOakland-based energy efficiency contractor specializing in multifamily buildings. Completed boiler replacement with central heat pump system, reducing nonprofit cost from $550K to under $50K through government incentives.
• Alameda County Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty health agency partnering with Operation Dignity to ensure unhoused participants can access COVID-19 vaccination, working alongside VA for vaccine distribution to veterans.
• Oakland VA CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterans Affairs healthcare provider bringing vaccine directly to Operation Dignity sites for veteran residents and participants.
• Fennemore WendelsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertified B Corp law firm providing pro bono volunteer meal service at House of Dignity, hygiene kit assemblies (500+ annually), outdoor cleanup workdays, and bagged lunch donations for mobile outreach. Board member James de Los Reyes serves on Operation Dignity board.
• Alameda County Community Food BanksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood bank partner supporting meal programs at House of Dignity. Kitchen reports food procurement to the food bank.
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 595supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor union volunteer group that installed new lights on all seven buildings at Dignity Commons plus mailbox structure.
• FlexportsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany volunteer team that came to garden, trim, and mulch at Dignity Commons, cleaning up flower beds for summer.
• GooglesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate volunteer partner with HandsOn Bay Area for painting new mural and landscaping at housing sites.
• HandsOn Bay AreasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer organization coordinating corporate volunteer programs with Google for mural painting and property improvements.
• The Plant ExchangesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit that organized volunteers to create garden at Northgate Community Cabins site, planting succulents and drought-resistant plants.
• Haircuts with HeartsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer organization of hair stylists, barbers, and manicurists providing free haircuts and manicures to veterans at House of Dignity. Provided services to 19 veterans in one session.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• LifeMoves: LifeMoves (formerly InnVision Shelter Network) is one of the largest emergency shelter and supportive housing operators on the San Francisco Peninsula and Silicon Valley, and is also a prior employer of Operation Dignity's new Executive Director. It is comparable on continuum-of-care delivery (outreach, shelter, transitional, PSH) and reliance on county government contracts.
• Hamilton Families: Hamilton Families operates emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing for homeless families in San Francisco and is the immediate prior employer of Operation Dignity's new Executive Director. It is directly comparable on program mix (emergency shelter through PSH), funding model (city/county contracts plus philanthropy), and target population emphasis on families.
• Compass Family Services: Compass Family Services is a San Francisco nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and case management for homeless families and individuals, with a comparable mix of emergency and permanent supportive housing programs. The two organizations share similar funder profiles and a continuum-of-care service model.
• Berkeley Food and Housing Project: Berkeley Food and Housing Project operates emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services for homeless individuals in Berkeley and North Alameda County. It is a direct geographic peer with overlapping referral relationships and an analogous mix of city/county contracts and donor funding.
• Abode Services: Abode Services is a Bay Area nonprofit focused on housing homeless individuals and families, including those with mental health and substance use needs, operating supportive housing across multiple Alameda and Santa Clara County sites. It overlaps directly with Operation Dignity on permanent supportive housing models and HUD/local government funding streams.
• Swords to Plowshares: Swords to Plowshares is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) providing emergency housing, transitional/permanent supportive housing, employment, and case management to homeless and at-risk veterans in the Bay Area. It is the closest direct veteran-homelessness peer to Operation Dignity and competes for the same VA GPD and HUD-VASH referrals.
• St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco: St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco runs a network of multi-service programs serving homeless and low-income individuals, including shelters, dining halls, and supportive housing. It is a comparable multi-site Bay Area operator with a similar blend of government contracts and private donations.
• Glide Foundation: Glide operates one of San Francisco's largest walk-in meal programs and an extensive array of housing, harm reduction, and case management services for homeless and low-income individuals. It overlaps with Operation Dignity on harm reduction street outreach, meal services, and a broad housing continuum.

Emerging players

• Larkin Street Youth Services: Larkin Street Youth Services focuses specifically on homeless and at-risk youth (under 25) in San Francisco, with emergency shelter, transitional housing, and PSH. It is a partial overlap with Operation Dignity's Dignity Village youth (18–24) units and shares the same Bay Area county-contract and donor funding ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army (Golden State Division): The Salvation Army is a national nonprofit operating emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services across California, including in Alameda County. It overlaps on service mix and funding sources but operates at much greater scale and geographic breadth rather than specializing in the veteran-homelessness niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/operation-dignity

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Operation Dignity, Inc.