Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County

What Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County does

Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County (CFTH) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1982 and incorporated in 1988, headquartered at 2000 Crawford St., Suite 700, Houston, Texas. It functions as the designated Continuum of Care lead agency (HUD CoC TX-700) and backbone coordinator of The Way Home, the homeless response system serving Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. Rather than delivering direct services, CFTH convenes more than 100 partner agencies, government entities, philanthropies, and 130+ property managers; coordinates the annual HUD Point-in-Time Count; manages the local HUD CoC NOFO competition; and operates the regional Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), the Counting Us mobile survey app, and the Coordinated Entry matching system. Its leadership comprises a President & CEO (Kelly Young), a CFO/CAO (Kathy Murray), four VPs (Homeless Response System, Program Operations, Public Affairs, plus the CFO), and seven directors covering HR, Analytics & Evaluation, Grants & Procurement, Community & Strategy, Rapid Resolutions, Development, and Public Affairs/General Counsel.

CFTH's revenue model is a hybrid of pass-through federal funding coordination and private philanthropy. It channels approximately $70M+ annually in HUD CoC NOFO awards to partner agencies (rising from $46M in FY2022 to $59M in FY2023 to $71.6M in FY2024), retains a planning allocation for CoC Lead activities ($1.5M in FY2024), and supplements this with individual donations, The Cornerstone Project monthly giving program, corporate and foundation gifts, donor-advised funds, gifts of stock, IRA qualified charitable distributions, and planned/legacy giving. The organization reports a 91:1 leverage ratio on private donations (every $1 donated brings $91 in public funding), a 63%+ reduction in homelessness since 2012, 35,400+ people housed since 2012, and an approximately 85-95% two-year housing retention rate. Recent product and program additions include the 2026 State of Homelessness in Houston report (combining PIT Count with HMIS System Performance Measures), the FY2026 CoC Builds and YHDP local competitions, and a joint Rolling REI partnership with the City of Houston and Harris County to scale permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, outreach, and shelter capacity.

Name

Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County

Legal name

Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County

Website

https://cfthhouston.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CFTH is the 501(c)(3) backbone organization coordinating The Way Home homeless response system across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, managing HUD CoC NOFO funding and the regional HMIS data system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Services Coordination

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Homeless services coordination
• Continuum of care management
• Housing assistance programs
• Nonprofit coalition services
• Community impact coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government/Federal Funding: CFTH coordinates and distributes federal funding from HUD CoC NOFO competition, bringing approximately $70 million annually to the region. As of FY2024, CFTH coordinated $70M in public funding for homeless solutions. HUD awarded $71.6M in FY2024 CoC funding.
2. Private Philanthropy/Donations: Individual, corporate, and foundation donations support CFTH operations and innovation. The Cornerstone Project is a monthly giving program. For every $1 donated, CFTH brings an additional $91 in public funding.
3. Donor Advised Funds, Gifts of Stock, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, Planned Giving: Various planned giving options including stock donations, IRA rollovers for donors 70½ or older, and legacy/planned gift bequests.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CFTH acts as the designated HUD Continuum of Care lead agency (CoC TX-700) coordinating the regional homeless response system, known as The Way Home, for Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. The organization runs the HUD CoC NOFO funding competition (bringing approximately $70M annually to the region), operates the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), manages Coordinated Entry for housing prioritization, conducts the annual Point-in-Time Count, and provides Rapid Re-Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing program administration. CFTH serves as a backbone coordinator for 100+ partner agencies rather than delivering direct services.

Product overview

CFTH operates as the designated coordinator of the homeless response system (The Way Home) for Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties. Rather than a single product, CFTH offers a portfolio of interconnected programs and services including: The Way Home (the core homeless response system network), Coordinated Entry (assessment and matching system), HMIS (data management), Point-in-Time Count (annual census), and HUD CoC NOFO Competition coordination. Housing programs include Rapid Re-Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing. Additional offerings include the Help Card directory, YHDP youth programs, Street Guide resources, and The Cornerstone Project monthly giving program. CFTH also provides technical assistance to build capacity among partner organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Cornerstone Project: CFTH's monthly giving program that provides vital, consistent support to ensure Houston's homeless response system stays strong even when federal funding is unpredictable.

Products and services

• The Way Home Homeless response system for Houston and Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties — a public-private partnership network of dozens of homeless service providers and government, philanthropic, and business partners, coordinated by CFTH to move people from homelessness into permanent housing with supportive services.
• Coordinated Entry Regional coordinated system for assessing and matching individuals experiencing homelessness to available housing resources across Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties, using vulnerability and length-of-homelessness prioritization.
• Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Regional data management system that collects and maintains information about individuals and families experiencing homelessness and the services they receive, with real-time dashboards supporting System Performance Measures and outcome tracking.
• Point-in-Time Count Annual HUD-mandated census coordinated by CFTH covering emergency shelters, transitional housing, safe havens, and unsheltered individuals across the three-county region, conducted with support from the Counting Us mobile app for volunteer data collection.
• HUD CoC NOFO Competition Annual Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity competition managed by CFTH on behalf of the region, bringing approximately $70 million annually in HUD funding ($71.6M in FY2024) to support permanent housing, supportive services, and planning efforts in the region.
• Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) Short-term rental assistance program providing housing and supportive services to rapidly stabilize individuals and families experiencing homelessness, with the goal of helping them return to permanent housing.
• Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Permanent housing assistance combined with supportive services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness with disabilities, designed to provide long-term housing stability.
• Help Card Online directory of services to support homeless or newly housed individuals, providing a robust resource listing available to anyone online.
• Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) Federal program focused on ending youth homelessness through coordinated entry, transitional housing, and supportive services specifically designed for youth and young adults, including pregnant/parenting youth, single youth, and Supportive Services Only project types.
• The Cornerstone Project Monthly giving program that provides consistent donor support to keep Houston's homeless response system strong during unpredictable federal funding periods, focusing on outreach, provider collaboration, and real-time data.
• Technical Assistance Targeted capacity-building support services provided by CFTH to nonprofit partner organizations to strengthen their internal capabilities and expand their impact within the homeless response system.
• Speaker Request Program Educational speaking engagements by CFTH staff for community events, conferences, and group meetings, available for a fee that supports program continuation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35,400+ people housed since 2012; ~95% success rate (don't return to homelessness within 2 years); 63%+ reduction in homelessness since 2012; 85% remained stably housed over 2-year period
• +2 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

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of Houston and Harris County (Joint REI Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2025City of Houston, Harris County, and CFTH jointly issued a Rolling Request for Expressions of Interest (REI) to address homelessness through scalable solutions including permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, outreach, and shelter expansion.
• The Way HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Way Home is the homeless response system for Houston and Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties - a public-private partnership network of dozens of homeless service providers and government, philanthropic, and business partners. CFTH serves as the designated coordinator/lead agency for The Way Home Continuum of Care (TX-700).
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFTH is the designated Continuum of Care (CoC) lead agency for TX-700, coordinating HUD funding applications and distribution. The HUD CoC NOFO competition brought approximately $70-71M to the region in recent years.
• United Way of Greater HoustoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLogo partner displayed on CFTH website. United Way provides funding and collaborative support for homeless solutions in the Greater Houston region.
• City of Houston Housing and Community Development DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFTH collaborates with the City of Houston on housing initiatives including the 419 Emancipation resource living facility and joint funding opportunities like the Community COVID Housing Program.
• Harris CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarris County and CFTH partner on homeless response, including the End Street Homeless Action Plan. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo noted the county has reduced homelessness by more than 16% between 2018 and 2026 through this partnership.
• Fort Bend County and Montgomery CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFTH serves as coordinator for The Way Home Continuum of Care covering Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. These counties participate in coordinated entry, PIT Count, and regional homeless response system.
• Property Managers and LandlordscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 130 property partners collaborate with The Way Home to expand housing access. Property managers receive rental subsidies and may be eligible for Landlord Incentive Fees (LIF). CFTH provides landlord engagement team support.
• University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Ben King, clinical assistant professor at UH College of Medicine, participated in PIT Count report release and provides research/evaluation support for homelessness data.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Low Income Housing Coalition: NLIHC is a national advocacy organization dedicated to achieving socially just housing for extremely low-income households. It is comparable to CFTH in that it operates in the housing and homelessness advocacy space, though at a national rather than regional level.
• Family Promise: Family Promise is a national nonprofit addressing family homelessness through prevention, shelter, and stabilization programs. It is comparable to CFTH in the homelessness services space, though operating a direct service model rather than a regional coordination backbone.
• National Alliance to End Homelessness: The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a national policy and advocacy organization that works with Continuums of Care and federal agencies on homelessness systems. It is comparable to CFTH as it operates in the same homelessness coordination and policy space at a national level.

Direct peers

• Corporation for Supportive Housing: CSH is a national nonprofit focused on scaling supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness and disability. It is comparable to CFTH's Permanent Supportive Housing program and broader role in coordinating housing solutions for high-need populations.
• Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA): LAHSA is the designated Continuum of Care lead agency for the Los Angeles region, coordinating federal homeless funding and a regional response system. It is a direct structural peer to CFTH as a CoC lead agency backbone organization in a major U.S. metro.
• Community Solutions: Community Solutions runs the Built for Zero initiative, a national backbone model that helps communities coordinate across agencies to end homelessness and track veteran and chronic homelessness to functional zero. It is a direct conceptual peer to CFTH as a homelessness coordination backbone organization.
• Chicago Coalition for the Homeless: Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is a nonprofit advocacy and direct service organization that operates as a coordinating body for homeless response in Chicago. It is comparable to CFTH as a regional coalition focused on reducing homelessness through coordination, advocacy, and policy.
• Homebase: Homebase is a technical assistance and capacity-building organization that supports Continuums of Care and homeless service providers. It is comparable to CFTH as it provides technical assistance and systems coordination expertise to CoCs, similar to CFTH's role supporting partner agencies.

Emerging players

• United Way of Greater Houston: United Way of Greater Houston is a core funder and partner of CFTH that operates 2-1-1 Texas for social service referrals. It is comparable as an adjacent social-services coordinator in the same Houston market, with overlapping donor and partner networks.

Regional players

• Heading Home (Boston): Heading Home is a Boston-area backbone organization working to end homelessness through coordination and advocacy. It is comparable to CFTH as a regional coalition operating a coordinated response system in a major U.S. metro area.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/homelessHOU
• Facebookfacebook.com/CFTHHouston
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cfthhouston
• Instagraminstagram.com/cfthhouston

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County