Opportunity Center for the Homeless

What Opportunity Center for the Homeless does

Opportunity Center for the Homeless is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded on January 3, 1994, in El Paso, Texas, by Ray and Lilly Tullius in response to multiple winter deaths of homeless individuals in El Paso County. It operates the largest night/emergency day resource center system in west Texas and southern New Mexico, providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing across 4 emergency shelters and 7 residential centers (11 facilities total) through 13 distinct programs. The organization serves more than 2,000 unique individuals annually with a nightly capacity above 350, and its client base spans single men, single women, families, veterans, the elderly (ages 55–90), and chronically homeless individuals with mental illness or substance abuse issues.

The service portfolio includes 24/7 walk-in access (no appointments required), three meals daily, on-site medical care via a Centro San Vicente partnership (one nurse practitioner, four LVNs, pharmacy, four exam rooms serving 270+ clients monthly), mental health and substance abuse services through Aliviane (PATH program, WRAP curriculum), assessment and case management, employment placement, transportation, clothing distribution (over 24,000 items annually), and education programs. A Community of Learning partnership with UTEP's College of Health Sciences, initiated in 2014, integrates social work students into shelter operations. No proprietary technology platform underpins the model; delivery is built on direct human service, partner-agency integration, and a paid staff of which over half have lived experience with homelessness.

Revenue is generated entirely through tax-deductible donations and grants, with no fees charged to clients. The five revenue streams are individual donations (one-time and monthly recurring), corporate sponsorships ($300–$10,000 event tiers), government grants (which have been cut by more than $400,000 since June 2014), fundraising events (notably the annual HomeRun for the Homeless 5K at Southwest University Park), and in-kind donations. A 2,000+ volunteer base contributes over 8,000 hours annually. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors drawing leadership from Wells Fargo, Marathon Petroleum, UTEP, El Paso Electric, TexasBank, and other local institutions, and is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024 with a renovation underway to double capacity at the Willie Sanchez-Rosales Family Center.

Name

Opportunity Center for the Homeless

Legal name

Opportunity Center for the Homeless

Website

https://homelessopportunitycenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Opportunity Center for the Homeless is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1994 in El Paso, Texas, operating 11 facilities (4 emergency shelters, 7 residential centers) that provide 24/7 shelter, food, case management, medical, and mental health services to over 2,000 unique homeless individuals annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Housing Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Community Food Services (624210), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Emergency Shelter, NFIs & Winterization for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAG), Affordable / Low-Income Assisted Living (Medicaid Waiver Focused) (HLADABAE)

Keywords

• Emergency shelter services
• Transitional housing programs
• Homeless assistance services
• Supportive housing programs
• Social services for homeless

Headquarters

HQ city

El Paso

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, including one-time gifts and monthly recurring donations. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID: 74-2634199).
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors for events like HomeRun for the Homeless, with sponsorship levels ranging from $300 to $10,000.
3. Government Grants and Funding: Federal and government funding for programs, though the organization has experienced funding cuts exceeding $400,000 since June 2014.
4. Fundraising Events: Annual HomeRun for the Homeless 5K Run/Walk and Kids Dash, signature fundraising event generating significant community support.
5. In-Kind Donations: Donations of food, clothing, goods, and services from individuals and organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Opportunity Center for the Homeless is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social services organization that operates emergency shelters, transitional housing, and residential programs for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in El Paso, Texas. The organization provides overnight shelter, meals, case management, supportive services, and pathways to permanent housing across multiple facilities, serving thousands of unique individuals annually through a network of emergency and residential programs.

Product overview

The Opportunity Center for the Homeless operates a multi-facility shelter and social services system in El Paso, Texas. The organization provides a portfolio of emergency shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing programs for homeless individuals including men, women, families, veterans, elderly, and those with mental illness or disabilities. Core services include 24-hour emergency shelter at the Men's and Women's Resource Centers, family housing at the Willie Sanchez-Rosales Family Center, veteran services at the VTLC, and permanent housing at facilities including Safe Haven, Missouri Street Residence, Magoffin Avenue SRO, and Women's SRO & Transitional Living Center. Support services encompass on-site medical care through a Centro San Vicente partnership, mental health and substance abuse services including WRAP programming, assessment and case management, clothing distribution through the Clothes Closet, and food services via the FoodShare program. An educational partnership with UTEP's College of Health Sciences provides student interns while supporting service delivery. The organization also conducts fundraising through the annual HomeRun for the Homeless 5K event. All services are provided without distinction to homeless individuals 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter Services Overnight emergency shelter beds providing safe sleeping accommodations, meals, and basic needs for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in El Paso, Texas. Available at no cost to clients through walk-in intake or referral.

Quantifiable outcome

• 145 homeless individuals placed in stable permanent housing in 2014
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and secondary.

• Pima Medical InstituteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Students provide free haircuts and grooming services to shelter residents.
• University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) - College of Health SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Community of Learning partnership initiated 2014-2015. Social work students incorporated into curriculum for real-world experience while providing critical support to existing staff. Students implement evidence-based approaches improving program impact. Partnership assists community while investing in systemic change.
• El Paso Independent School District (EPISD)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Donates leftover food from regional campuses to provide nutritious meals. Partnership benefits nearly 400 people daily and helps provide over 10,000 meals monthly.
• El Paso Chihuahuas Baseball TeamcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2014Unique partnership for HomeRun for the Homeless annual 5K Run/Walk and Kids Dash. Event takes place at Southwest University Park. Provides tickets to games and raises funds and awareness for homelessness services.
• Tri-State Cosmetology InstituteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2011Students provide free haircuts and grooming services to shelter residents, donating time and talents to lift spirits.
• Centro San VicentecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-site outpatient medical clinic partnership. Clinic staffed by one nurse practitioner and four licensed vocational nurses, with own pharmacy and four examination rooms. Provides medical care to all homeless clients, serving approximately 270+ clients monthly. Reduces costly emergency room visits.
• Aliviane Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides drug screening, assessment of needs, case management, and referrals for substance abusers. Conducts client site visits and street outreach. Most clients have co-occurring disorders requiring mental illness and substance abuse intervention.
• El Paso Coalition for the HomelesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner for developing permanent housing. First permanent housing facility (Missouri Street Residence) developed jointly. Coalition members provide on-site services at Opportunity Center.
• Veterans Administration (VA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVA refers veterans to Veterans Transitional Living Center (VTLC). VA provides medical, psychiatric care, mental health counseling, and substance abuse treatment services for veterans in the program.
• El Paso MHMR (Mental Health Mental Retardation)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides mental health counseling and outpatient psychiatric care for homeless clients, available on-site through referral.
• ReadyOne IndustriessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment partner providing job opportunities for persons with disabilities or developmental delays among the homeless population.
• Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing employment opportunities and rehabilitative services for homeless individuals with disabilities.
• American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAARP job placement and training programs available to elderly residents (55-90 years) at Magoffin Avenue SRO.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Coalition for the Homeless (Houston): Houston-area nonprofit providing emergency shelter, housing placement, and supportive services for homeless individuals, with an overlapping Continuum-of-Care focus and comparable scope of housing and case-management programming.
• Family Gateway (Dallas): Texas-based nonprofit operating emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services for homeless families, directly comparable in service model and family-focused programming but operating in the Dallas market.
• San Antonio Metropolitan Ministry (SAMM): San Antonio-based interfaith nonprofit providing shelter, housing assistance, and case management for homeless individuals and families, with a comparable multi-program service structure serving a different Texas market.

Broad incumbents

• Volunteers of America Texas: Texas arm of a national nonprofit operating housing, recovery, and behavioral-health programs for vulnerable populations including homeless individuals; broader portfolio but overlapping service lines (emergency shelter, transitional housing, substance-abuse recovery).
• The Salvation Army (National): National nonprofit operating shelter, food service, and social-service programs for homeless and low-income populations nationwide; broader portfolio and national scale, but the El Paso corps is a direct overlap to Opportunity Center services.

Others

• National Alliance to End Homelessness: National advocacy and policy organization advancing evidence-based solutions to homelessness; not a direct service provider, but a relevant ecosystem peer that shapes federal funding and best-practice frameworks Opportunity Center relies on.

Direct peers

• Rescue Mission of El Paso: El Paso-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, meals, and recovery services for homeless individuals in the same geography, with overlapping emergency-shelter, food-service, and case-management offerings.
• The Salvation Army El Paso: Operates emergency shelter, transitional housing, and food programs for homeless and low-income individuals in El Paso, providing directly overlapping services (shelter, meals, case management) to similar client segments.
• YWCA El Paso del Norte: Provides shelter and supportive services for homeless women and families in El Paso, directly comparable to the Opportunity Center's Women's Resource Center, Women's SRO, and Willie Sanchez-Rosales Family Center programs.
• Catholic Charities of El Paso: El Paso-based social services nonprofit serving vulnerable populations including homeless individuals and families, with overlapping immigration, housing-assistance, and emergency-services programs targeting a similar client base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/OCHomeless1ELP
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/OC-for-the-Homeless/275580619125258
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/opportunity-center-for-the-homeless

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Opportunity Center for the Homeless