What Bethesda Cares does

Bethesda Cares is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1988 and headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, that prevents, eases, and ends homelessness in Montgomery County through five interlocking programs: street outreach, permanent supportive housing, Critical Time Intervention (CTI), eviction prevention, and a daily meal program operated in partnership with Church in Bethesda. The organization serves individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, veterans, residents at imminent risk of eviction, and individuals with serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders, following a Housing First methodology with no preconditions for service entry. In 2024 the organization conducted 2,618 supportive case management visits, helped 241 unique individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, and achieved a 98% housing retention rate across its supportive housing portfolio. In 2025 it kept 446 residents in their homes through eviction prevention and moved 60 individuals into stable housing averaging 218 nights per person.

The organization's technology footprint centers on RentSelect, an online landlord-engagement platform powered by Padmission software that streamlines rental listings, connects Montgomery County property owners with case managers and housing navigators, and accelerates the leasing process for tenants in Bethesda Cares' housing programs. Bethesda Cares also designed and operates Montgomery County's first vulnerability index and by-name list of unsheltered individuals (2011–2013), the precursor to the county's Coordinated Entry System. The organization pioneered the U.S. application of Critical Time Intervention for street homelessness in 2015 and co-led the Zero:2016 campaign that virtually ended veteran homelessness in Montgomery County.

Bethesda Cares is funded through a diversified mix of federal HUD Continuum of Care grants (including the $4.32 million 2022 HUD CoC Supplemental Allocation — the largest in county history), matching contributions from Montgomery County Government ($550,000), individual donations, workplace giving through United Way (#8868) and the Combined Federal Campaign (#23753), planned giving, stock/securities donations, corporate partnerships (e.g., Marriott), and employer matching gifts. Services are provided free of charge to clients. The organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors and operates with 11–50 staff across program management, outreach, case management, and operations functions.

Name

Bethesda Cares

Legal name

Bethesda Cares Inc.

Website

https://bethesdacares.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bethesda Cares is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1988 that prevents and ends homelessness in Montgomery County, Maryland through street outreach, supportive housing, Critical Time Intervention, eviction prevention, and a daily meal program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homelessness Services and Supportive Housing

NAICS

Other Community Housing Services (624229), Community Housing Services (62422)

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

• Homeless services
• Supportive housing
• Eviction prevention
• Street outreach
• Housing stabilization

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals via the organization's website, with options for one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, and various preset amounts ($25, $50, $100, $250, $500). The organization has a Monthly Giving Circle for consistent donors.
2. Federal Grants: Federal funding through HUD Continuum of Care programs. The 'Street to Home' project received $4.32 million through the 2022 HUD CoC Supplemental Allocation.
3. County Government Funding: Montgomery County Government provides matching contributions, including $550,000 for the Street to Home project.
4. Workplace Giving: Bethesda Cares participates in United Way (#8868) and Combined Federal Campaign (#23753) for payroll deductions.
5. Planned Giving: Legacy giving through estate plans, allowing donors to include Bethesda Cares in their wills.
6. In-Kind Donations: Vehicle donations, Amazon wishlist items, and other in-kind contributions.
7. Stock/Securities Donations: Donors can transfer stocks or securities to Bethesda Cares via Merrill Lynch (Account #5TL-02314, DTC 8862).
8. Matching Gifts: Many employers match employee donations, potentially doubling the impact of individual contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bethesda Cares is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that prevents, eases, and ends homelessness in Montgomery County, Maryland through Housing First practices. Its core offerings include street outreach engagement, permanent supportive housing placement with ongoing case management, time-limited Critical Time Intervention for housing transitions, direct eviction-prevention grants to landlords and utility providers, and a long-running weekday meal program that doubles as a client engagement point. The organization also operates RentSelect, a technology platform connecting landlords with case managers to expand housing opportunities for program participants.

Product overview

Bethesda Cares operates five interconnected core programs focused on preventing, easing, and ending homelessness in Montgomery County, Maryland. The programs follow a Housing First methodology: Eviction Prevention provides financial assistance to keep residents in their homes; Meal Program and Street Outreach engage individuals and build trust; Supportive Housing and Critical Time Intervention (CTI) facilitate permanent housing placement with ongoing case management. Additionally, RentSelect is a technology platform (powered by Padmission software) that supports the organization's landlord partnerships and housing placement operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Street Outreach Daily field-based engagement program where outreach workers go to parks, Metro centers, and parking garages to build trust with individuals experiencing homelessness and connect them to housing resources.
• Supportive Housing Permanent housing placement paired with long-term case management, home visits, and wraparound services including Housing Initiative Program (HIP), Veterans Supportive Housing, Corporate Lease Housing, and the Street to Home Housing Program.
• Critical Time Intervention (CTI) Time-limited, evidence-based transition support program spanning 3–9 months that helps individuals move from street homelessness to permanent housing through phased, intensive case management.
• Eviction Prevention — Housing Stabilization Financial assistance program that provides direct grants to landlords and utility providers to prevent eviction and utility shut-offs for county residents facing severe financial distress.
• Meal Program Weekday lunch service operated in partnership with Church in Bethesda, providing nutritious meals and serving as an engagement platform to build trust with individuals experiencing homelessness.
• RentSelect Landlord engagement platform powered by Padmission software that connects Montgomery County property owners with case managers and housing navigators, streamlines unit listing management, and facilitates faster leasing to qualified tenants seeking housing assistance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% housing retention rate for supportive housing programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mary's CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2023Partnership with Mary's Center as part of the 'Street to Home' project, awarded $4.32 million in federal funding through the 2022 HUD Continuum of Care Supplemental Allocation. Mary's Center provides dental, medical, and behavioral health services as part of the collaborative effort to serve 80-120 individuals annually with rental subsidy assistance and supportive services.
• The Coordinating CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2023Partnership with The Coordinating Center as part of the 'Street to Home' project. The collaborative aims to end homelessness for individuals living unsheltered in Montgomery County through Housing First practices, with The Coordinating Center providing care coordination services.
• PadmissioncoreTechnology or IntegrationPadmission powers the RentSelect platform, a cutting-edge landlord engagement program that connects property owners with case managers and housing navigators in Montgomery County's Continuum of Care.
• Church in BethesdacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Church in Bethesda for the daily meal program. The church provides the location for weekday lunch service (Monday-Friday, 10:45-11:45 a.m.), which has been operating for over 36 years since 1988.
• MarriottminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partnership where Marriott helps bring joy to local families supported by Bethesda Cares each holiday season through toy donations.
• Montgomery County Continuum of CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBethesda Cares serves as Co-lead for the Montgomery County Built for Zero Campaign and the coordinating agency for the county campaign working to end homelessness on behalf of all individuals and families.
• Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for veterans housing programs including Rapid Rehousing, Permanent Supportive Housing, and Eviction Prevention, working together to ensure homeless veterans are placed into housing without delay.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Family Promise: National nonprofit network preventing and ending family homelessness through shelter, prevention, and stabilization programs. Comparable in homelessness-prevention mission and federal-grant reliance, though operating nationally rather than regionally.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington: Large regional social-services nonprofit operating emergency shelters, food programs, and housing services across the DC metro area. Comparable in core service mix but operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope than Bethesda Cares.

Direct peers

• Miriam's Kitchen: Washington, DC nonprofit delivering meals, housing placement, and case management to individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. Highly comparable in program mix (meals + housing + outreach), Housing First orientation, and DC metro geography.
• Mary's Center: DC-region federally qualified health center and social services nonprofit that is also a Bethesda Cares partner on the Street to Home project. Overlaps in serving homeless individuals through integrated medical, behavioral health, and housing support.
• SOME (So Others Might Eat): Washington, DC nonprofit offering meals, shelter, supportive housing, and workforce development to people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Operates a similar integrated continuum of meals-to-housing services and serves a comparable DC-area client base.
• N Street Village: Washington, DC nonprofit providing comprehensive housing, case management, and supportive services to women experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable in mission, Housing First methodology, and DC-area geography to Bethesda Cares, with similar reliance on government grants and donations.
• Pathways to Housing DC: DC-based Housing First provider delivering scattered-site supportive housing, Assertive Community Treatment, and street outreach. Highly aligned with Bethesda Cares' evidence-based, no-barriers housing placement approach.
• The Coordinating Center: Maryland-based care coordination nonprofit that is already a Bethesda Cares partner on the Street to Home project. Comparable in providing case management and housing-related coordination services, with overlap in target populations.
• Friendship Place: DC-region nonprofit providing street outreach, rapid rehousing, and permanent supportive housing, with a strong focus on homeless veterans. Closely comparable Housing First model, federal HUD grant reliance, and target population including veterans with co-occurring conditions.

Others

• National Alliance to End Homelessness: DC-based policy, research, and advocacy organization working to end homelessness nationally. Not a direct service provider but a relevant ecosystem participant — Bethesda Cares is part of its Continuums of Care network and uses its research and methodologies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bethesda-cares-org
• Xx.com/BethesdaCares

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bethesda Cares