Shelterhouse

What Shelterhouse does

Shelterhouse is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 1973 in Cincinnati, Ohio (originally as the Drop Inn Center), operating the largest and most comprehensive homeless shelter system in Greater Cincinnati. The organization serves single adults experiencing homelessness, operating two purpose-built facilities opened in 2015: the David & Rebecca Barron Center for Men (150 beds at 411 Gest Street) and the Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women (60 beds at 2499 Reading Road), plus a seasonal Winter Shelter. Since 2015 it has served over 17,000 individuals, provided nearly 800,000 shelter nights, and distributed 981,423 meals, with 109,000 additional meals served through its Feed the Need volunteer program in 2025.

The portfolio is built around emergency shelter as the entry point, layered with case management (using NASW Standards), on-site healthcare (Deaconess Health Check Clinic via NeighborHub Health, mental health and Medication-Assisted Treatment via Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services), a CARF-accredited and Ohio Department of Behavioral Health-certified Recovery Program for outpatient substance-abuse treatment, and a Rapid Re-Housing Program that helps residents transition to permanent housing with rental assistance and case management. All services are delivered free of charge to residents, with no proprietary technology stack and no AI/ML components disclosed.

The revenue model is donation-driven, relying on individual contributions (online via the For Good platform, mail-in checks, recurring gifts), planned giving and bequests, stock transfers, and corporate partnerships such as the Kroger Community Rewards affiliate program. The organization is governed by a board of directors chaired by Adam Gelter, led by Executive Director Danielle Wilder, and staffed by 65 employees including a Chief Program Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and functional directors for shelters, recovery, finance, development, and facilities. Shelterhouse operates exclusively within Hamilton County, Ohio, with no disclosed geographic expansion plans.

Name

Shelterhouse

Legal name

Shelterhouse

Website

https://shelterhousecincy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Shelterhouse is a Cincinnati-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the largest homeless shelter system in Greater Cincinnati, serving single adults through two 210-bed facilities with free shelter, meals, case management, on-site healthcare, and CARF-accredited recovery services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Shelter and Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Homeless shelter services
• Emergency overnight shelter
• Case management support
• Rapid re-housing program
• Substance abuse recovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

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. Individual Donations: Shelterhouse accepts donations from individuals via mail-in checks, online credit card donations through For Good platform, and one-time or recurring contributions.
2. Planned Giving and Bequests: Donors can leave bequests in their Will, including specific dollar amounts, assets, or percentage of estate to create lasting legacy support.
3. Stock Transfers: Donors can transfer appreciated stock to Shelterhouse, providing tax-efficient giving while avoiding capital gains taxes.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with organizations like Kroger (Community Rewards program) where a percentage of purchases are donated to Shelterhouse.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Shelterhouse operates two 24/7 emergency homeless shelters in Cincinnati (a 150-bed men's shelter and a 60-bed women's shelter) plus a seasonal winter shelter, providing free beds, three daily meals, emergency clothing and toiletries. It layers on individualized case management, on-site medical/mental health clinics, mobile dental care, a CARF-accredited Recovery Program for substance use disorder, and a Rapid Re-Housing Program that helps residents transition to stable housing.

Product overview

Shelterhouse is a nonprofit homeless shelter organization offering a portfolio of interconnected shelter and supportive services for adults experiencing homelessness in Greater Cincinnati. The core offerings include two primary shelter facilities: The David & Rebecca Barron Center for Men (150 beds) and The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women (60 beds), plus a seasonal Winter Shelter. These shelters serve as the entry point for supportive services including Case Management Services (using the NASW Standards model), Health Services (on-site clinics via Deaconess Health Check/NeighborHub Health and Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health), and a CARF-accredited Recovery Program for drug and alcohol treatment. The Rapid Re-Housing Program helps residents transition from shelter to permanent housing through rental assistance and housing search support. The Feed the Need Volunteer Program enables community meal service, with over 109,000 meals served in 2025. All shelter services are provided free of charge to residents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The David & Rebecca Barron Center for Men 24/7/365 emergency shelter for adult men experiencing homelessness, providing 150 beds, three daily meals, emergency clothing and toiletries, individualized case management, on-site medical and mental health clinics, mobile dental care, and access to the Recovery Program.
• The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 24/7/365 emergency shelter for single women experiencing homelessness, providing 60 beds, three daily meals, emergency clothing and toiletries, individualized case management, on-site medical and mental health clinics, mobile dental care, and a 9,000 sq. ft. private outdoor courtyard.
• Winter Shelter

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 17,000 individuals served since 2015
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides mental health services and Medication-Assisted Treatment at the Barron Center for Men shelter location.
• NeighborHub HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates the Deaconess Health Check Clinic at both shelter locations, providing on-site healthcare services to residents.
• 3CDC (Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDowntown development corporation partner working on urban development and community initiatives in Cincinnati.
• Freestore FoodbankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood bank partner providing food resources and meal support for shelter residents.
• Strategies to End HomelessnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead agency coordinating homeless services and strategies across Hamilton County, Ohio.
• Veterans AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner providing services and support for homeless veterans in the Cincinnati area.
• Ohio Means JobscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState employment services connecting shelter residents with job training and employment opportunities.
• City Gospel MissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing Jobs Plus employment services to shelter residents.
• Metro (Cincinnati Metro transit)minorOthersPublic transit partner providing transportation access for shelter residents to reach employment and services.
• KrogerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner through Community Rewards program where shoppers can designate Shelterhouse to receive percentage of purchases.
• Center for Addiction TreatmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing addiction treatment services and support for shelter residents in recovery.
• Talbert HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBehavioral health services partner serving the Greater Cincinnati area.
• LaSoupeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood rescue and meal services partner providing food resources to shelter.
• National Church ResidenciesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing affordable housing and supportive services for seniors and others.
• UC PhysiciansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity-affiliated medical provider offering healthcare services to shelter residents.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Talbert House: Greater Cincinnati behavioral health and social services provider offering substance use treatment, mental health, housing, and corrections reentry services. Overlaps with Shelterhouse's Recovery Program and behavioral health partnerships in the same regional market.
• LA Family Housing: Large Los Angeles nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid re-housing, and supportive services to families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Comparable multi-program service architecture and target population to Shelterhouse.
• Strategies to End Homelessness: Hamilton County's lead coordinating agency for homeless services, partnering directly with Shelterhouse to align shelter, rapid re-housing, and prevention across the same geography and client base. Operates a continuum-of-care model highly comparable to Shelterhouse's shelter-plus-services approach.
• PATH (People Assisting the Homeless): Los Angeles-based nonprofit operating emergency shelters, interim housing, and permanent supportive housing with integrated health, mental health, and employment services. Closely mirrors Shelterhouse's shelter-plus-services model at a larger regional scale.
• Freestore Foodbank: Cincinnati's largest hunger-relief organization and a core food partner for Shelterhouse. Operates its own client-choice pantries and emergency food programs serving overlapping low-income and homeless populations in the same region.
• City Gospel Mission: Cincinnati-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, meals, recovery programs, and workforce development to people experiencing homelessness and addiction. Comparable service mix and target population to Shelterhouse, with overlapping Jobs Plus employment partnership.
• Lighthouse Youth & Family Services: Greater Cincinnati nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services for youth, young adults, and families experiencing homelessness or crisis. Same geography, overlapping client base (homeless and at-risk populations), and similar multi-program service model.
• Atlanta Mission: Comprehensive Atlanta nonprofit providing emergency shelter, recovery programs, case management, and career development for men, women, and children experiencing homelessness. Highly comparable integrated service model with CARF-accredited recovery programming.
• National Church Residences: National nonprofit developer and operator of affordable housing and supportive services for seniors and low-income populations. Listed as a Shelterhouse partner providing affordable housing pathways; comparable mission of moving vulnerable populations into stable housing.
• Family Promise: National nonprofit network mobilizing faith and community volunteers to provide shelter, meals, and housing stabilization services for families experiencing homelessness. Comparable volunteer-driven meal and shelter delivery model, though focused on families rather than single adults.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shelterhouse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Shelterhouse