Welcome House

What Welcome House does

Welcome House, Inc. is a Kentucky-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 by a coalition of churches to address homelessness in Northern Kentucky. Headquartered at 1132 Greenup Street in Covington, the organization operates a continuum of services spanning two main areas: Homeless Solutions (service coordination, street outreach via the mobile Open Door team with an embedded Nurse Practitioner, and the St. Elizabeth Healthcare Medical Respite Program) and Housing & Supportive Services (Rapid Re-Housing, Permanent Supportive Housing, the 20-unit Gardens at Greenup affordable housing facility, HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, the Representative Payee Program, and a Diversion Program). Its flagship 20,000-square-foot Homeless Services Center, opened in 2023, doubled organizational capacity and serves as the only shelter for families in Northern Kentucky, with capacity for up to 65 family members.

The organization extends services across approximately 40 predominantly rural Kentucky counties through a headquarters and five regional offices in Owensboro, Maysville, Morehead, Ashland, and Somerset. Underlying technology is limited to the federally aligned Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) for client tracking and outcome measurement, with no proprietary software products or developer-facing APIs. Services are delivered free of charge to clients, accessed via walk-in hours, street outreach, and partner referrals.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable contributions: individual one-time donations ($25–$10,000 tiers), recurring Champion monthly gifts, three annual fundraising events (Mardi Gras for Homeless Children, Annual Household Shower, Summer Sunday), corporate sponsorships, in-kind donations, and restricted grants from sources including the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund ($2.5M cumulative in 2019 and 2024) and Kentucky Housing Corporation ($2.1M in 2024 ERA2 funds). The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Jason Spauling, with Amanda Couch appointed CEO in October 2025 after 11+ years of internal service. Since founding, Welcome House has served over 95,000 men, women, and children.

Name

Welcome House

Legal name

Welcome House, Inc.

Website

https://welcomehouseky.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Welcome House is a Kentucky-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 that operates a continuum of homeless services — emergency shelter, street outreach, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, and medical respite — for individuals and families across 40 predominantly rural Kentucky counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homelessness Services and Supportive Housing

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Homeless shelter services
• Emergency housing assistance
• Supportive housing programs
• Homelessness outreach services
• Rapid re-housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Covington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: Welcome House raises funds from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and event attendees. Donation options include one-time gifts ($25–$10,000), monthly Champion recurring donations, and Auto-Recurring (weekly/monthly/annual) donations. The organization also holds three major annual fundraising events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Welcome House, Inc. is a nonprofit social services organization that delivers a continuum of homelessness services to individuals and families in Kentucky, transitioning clients from housing uncertainty to housing stability. Its core offerings span emergency shelter at the 20,000-sq-ft Homeless Services Center (2023), street outreach (Open Door), Rapid Re-Housing, Permanent Supportive Housing, Gardens at Greenup affordable housing (20 units), Representative Payee services, and a Medical Respite Program. All direct client services are provided free of charge and funded through charitable donations, grants, and three annual fundraising events.

Product overview

Welcome House is a nonprofit homeless services organization offering a continuum of services to transition individuals and families from housing uncertainty to housing stability. The organization operates two main service areas: Homeless Solutions (which includes Service Coordination, Street Outreach/Open Door, and the Medical Respite Program) and Housing & Supportive Services (which owns and operates housing facilities including Rapid Re-Housing, Permanent Supportive Housing, Gardens at Greenup, HOME TBRA, Representative Payee, and Diversion programs). The flagship Homeless Services Center opened in 2023 provides emergency shelter and trauma-sensitive support for families. The organization also hosts major annual fundraising events including Mardi Gras for Homeless Children, Annual Household Shower, and Summer Sunday, and offers a Champion Monthly Donation program for recurring donors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Homeless Solutions A holistic, comprehensive service approach for individuals and families who struggle to sustain their basic needs. Includes assessment, outreach, case planning, financial education, housing counseling, employment support, and community referrals. Delivered through Service Coordination, Open Door Street Outreach, and the Medical Respite Program.
• Housing & Supportive Services Owned and operated housing facilities in Northern Kentucky, encompassing the emergency shelter at the Homeless Services Center and apartment complexes including Rapid Re-Housing, Permanent Supportive Housing, Gardens at Greenup affordable housing, HOME TBRA, Representative Payee, and Diversion programs.
• Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) Quickly connects families and individuals experiencing homelessness to permanent housing through time-limited financial aid and targeted supportive services. Uses the VI-SPDAT assessment tool for eligibility determination.
• Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Combines housing with services for people with serious mental illnesses or disabilities. Provides partial to full ongoing financial rental and utility assistance along with service coordination, counseling, and employment assistance.
• Gardens at Greenup 20-unit affordable housing facility with 2-4 bedroom apartments for families. Provides subsidized housing with on-site support services including service coordination, education planning, career planning, financial literacy, life skills training, and childcare.
• HOME Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) Makes up the difference between what a household can afford and the local rent standard. Provides assistance for monthly rent and utility costs for up to 24 months for households earning less than 60% of Area Median Income.
• Representative Payee Program Assists persons with mental or physical disabilities by directly managing their Social Security or VA benefits. Pays rent, utilities, and other monthly bills on participants' behalf to improve quality of life and stabilization.
• Diversion Program Works within geographic areas to divert people from homelessness through interactive problem-solving conversations with program participants after a screening interview.
• Street Outreach (Open Door) Mobile homeless outreach team providing emergency stabilization services in Kenton, Campbell, Boone, and rural counties. Composed of outreach workers and a Nurse Practitioner providing holistic street-based services since July 2017.
• Medical Respite Program Partnership with St. Elizabeth Healthcare providing respite medical care for individuals experiencing homelessness who need a place to rest and heal. Located at The Pavilion in Covington.
• Social Determinants of Health Program Pilot partnership with FwdSlash expanding access to housing and providing educational knowledge on healthcare benefits for individuals facing health disparities, helping connect participants to Medicaid resources through case manager coordination.
• Homeless Services Center (Covington) State-of-the-art 20,000-square-foot facility opened in 2023 at 1132 Greenup Street in Covington. The only homeless shelter for families in Northern Kentucky, providing trauma-sensitive support for up to 65 family members and doubling the organization's capacity.
• Champion Monthly Donation Program Recurring monthly giving program allowing donors to support Welcome House's ongoing mission with tiered giving levels providing shelter nights, meals, energy bills, or rental deposits.
• Mardi Gras for Homeless Children Annual Fat Tuesday celebration at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center benefiting homeless children, raising funds for meals and services. Hosts over 2,000 guests with food from 50+ vendors, live music, parade, and auctions; co-presented with the Joe Burrow Foundation and Northern Kentucky Restaurant Association.
• Annual Household Shower Spring celebration event at Ft. Mitchell Country Club where guests bring gifts for individuals transitioning from homeless to home. Hosted by the Welcome House Outreach (WHO) auxiliary group. Tickets are $50 each and include dinner.
• Summer Sunday Welcome House's largest annual fundraising event at Drees Pavilion with live music, food, silent auction and raffle prizes. Raised over $97,000 in 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• 74% of families successfully transitioned into stable housing since 2020
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Joe Burrow FoundationflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 February 2026Joint presenting sponsor of the 35th Annual Mardi Gras for Homeless Children event at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. The partnership leverages NFL athlete Joe Burrow's visibility to raise awareness and funds for homeless children services.
• Northern Kentucky Restaurant Association (NKRA)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 February 2026Co-presenter of the Mardi Gras for Homeless Children event. Over 50 local food and drink vendors participate annually. The NKRA created the event 35 years ago following a tragic fire that killed four homeless children, to support local homeless children.
• Northern Kentucky Convention CenterminorOthers · 17 February 2026Venue host for the Annual Mardi Gras for Homeless Children event. The venue has been the event location for 35 consecutive years.
• FwdSlashcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Pilot partnership between Welcome House and FwdSlash working to expand access to housing and provide educational knowledge on healthcare benefits. The Social Determinants of Health program connects individuals experiencing homelessness with Medicaid benefits and housing resources through case manager coordination.
• Brighton CenterminorOthers · 1 January 2024Mardi Gras for Homeless Children benefits three agencies: Brighton Center, Bethany House, and Welcome House. These partner agencies serve children and youth experiencing homelessness in Northern Kentucky.
• Bethany HouseminorOthers · 1 January 2024Mardi Gras for Homeless Children benefits three agencies: Brighton Center, Bethany House, and Welcome House. These partner agencies serve children and youth experiencing homelessness in Northern Kentucky.
• St. Elizabeth HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2022Partnership to open a medical respite program at The Pavilion (formerly St. Elizabeth North location in Covington) to provide respite medical care for individuals who need a place to rest and heal while experiencing homelessness.
• Welcome House Outreach (WHO)flagshipOthersAuxiliary fundraising group founded in 1990 that has supported Welcome House for over 30 years. WHO hosts two of the agency's three main annual events (Annual Household Shower and Summer Sunday), donates monthly meals to the shelter, and hosts a holiday party for staff.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Family Promise: National nonprofit network supporting families experiencing homelessness through shelter, housing, and prevention programs. Broader incumbent in the family-homelessness niche with a network model that connects to local affiliates serving similar populations.
• The Salvation Army Kentucky: Large national faith-based organization with significant Kentucky operations providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and social services. Competes for similar donor dollars and offers overlapping emergency-shelter capacity in many of the same counties.

Others

• St. Elizabeth Healthcare: Regional health system partnered with Welcome House to operate the Medical Respite Program at The Pavilion in Covington. An enabling health-system partner rather than direct competitor — but its community-benefit priorities increasingly shape funding for SDOH and respite-style programs that Welcome House depends on.

Regional players

• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Covington: Regional Catholic social services agency serving Northern Kentucky communities with housing, food, and family support programs. Peer in delivering community-based social services to overlapping populations in Welcome House's primary service geography.
• Community Action Council of Lexington-Fayette: Kentucky community action agency providing housing assistance and homelessness prevention across multiple counties. Comparable in administering emergency rental assistance (ERA) and rehousing programs funded through Kentucky Housing Corporation.

Direct peers

• Lighthouse Youth Services: Cincinnati-based nonprofit operating shelter, housing, and supported living programs for youth, families, and adults with mental health needs. Comparable in operating a continuum of housing plus case management services in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region.
• Strategies to End Homelessness: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Continuum of Care lead agency that coordinates homeless services, funding, and planning. Peer in coordinating system-level responses and HMIS data across the same region Welcome House operates in.
• Brighton Center: Northern Kentucky nonprofit providing housing, family services, and workforce programs. Direct peer: co-beneficiary of Mardi Gras for Homeless Children and overlapping service population in family stabilization and housing services.
• Bethany House Services: A Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati-area shelter and family homelessness organization offering emergency shelter, housing, and case management. Direct peer: co-beneficiary with Welcome House for the Mardi Gras for Homeless Children event and competes for the same family-homelessness population across the Ohio River.
• Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission: Community action agency serving Northern Kentucky with housing, weatherization, and emergency assistance programming. Direct peer: similar nonprofit model, overlapping service area, and comparable funding streams (ERA, state grants).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/welcomehouseky
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRD6UgkBREnMI0DbZglDUMQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/WelcomeHouseNKY
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/welcome-house-of-northern-kentucky
• Instagraminstagram.com/welcomehousenky

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Welcome House