Homeless Services United (HSU)

What Homeless Services United (HSU) does

Homeless Services United (HSU) is a New York City-based nonprofit coalition founded in 1996 that represents more than 55 nonprofit member agencies serving homeless and at-risk adults and families across the five boroughs. The organization operates three core service areas: Quality Services (supporting member agencies with tools to deliver care), Public Education (training workshops for policymakers, funders, and nonprofit professionals), and Policy and Advocacy (advocating for expansion of affordable housing, prevention services, emergency and transitional housing, and outreach/drop-in services for homeless New Yorkers). Membership committees provide peer learning and best-practice development across the coalition.

HSU does not operate a technology product or platform. Its revenue model is grant- and donation-based, funded by private foundations (Robin Hood, Trinity Church Wall Street Philanthropies, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust) and government sources (NYC Council). It reaches its audience through organic social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, Vimeo), an annual awards gala, policy forums, and its website. The organization is run by a small team of five staff led by Executive Director Kristin Miller and operates from a single Lower Manhattan headquarters at 25 Broadway, 12th Floor.

Name

Homeless Services United (HSU)

Legal name

Homeless Services United

Website

https://hsunited.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Homeless Services United is a 1996-founded NYC nonprofit coalition of 55+ member agencies that provides advocacy, training, and policy support to expand affordable housing and homelessness services across New York City.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Services Advocacy

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health & Health Equity/Social Determinants Units (HLAJAAAO)

Keywords

• Homeless advocacy
• Affordable housing policy
• Nonprofit coalition services
• Social services training
• Member agency support

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: HSU receives funding from private foundations (Robin Hood, Trinity Church Wall Street Philanthropies, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust) and government sources (NYC Council) to support their advocacy and coalition activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HSU is a 501(c)(3) coalition of New York City nonprofit agencies serving homeless and at-risk individuals. It delivers four core offerings: Quality Services support to member agencies, Public Education and training, Policy and Advocacy on affordable housing and homelessness, and member-led Committees that convene practitioners across HIV/AIDS, mental health, shelter, and family services.

Product overview

Homeless Services United (HSU) is a nonprofit coalition organization rather than a technology product company. It offers three core service areas: Quality Services (supporting member agencies in delivering homeless services), Public Education (training workshops for professionals), and Policy and Advocacy (advocating for affordable housing and homelessness solutions). HSU operates membership committees for peer learning and best practices. The organization connects member agencies to NYC government shelter intake systems and anti-eviction programs but does not operate a software product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Quality Services Program Quality Services support provided to NYC nonprofit member agencies to strengthen their capacity to deliver homeless and at-risk services, including best-practice guidance and shared resources.
• Public Education and Training Training workshops and public education sessions that build professional capacity among staff of member agencies and raise public awareness of homelessness and affordable housing issues in NYC.
• Policy and Advocacy Policy advocacy services delivered on behalf of the NYC homeless services sector, focused on affordable housing policy, city funding, and regulatory reform impacting member agencies and the people they serve.
• Membership Committees (HIV/AIDS, Mental Health, Shelter, Family Services) Member-driven committees that provide peer learning, information sharing, and subject-matter collaboration for member agencies across HIV/AIDS, mental health, shelter, and family services.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• The NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Advisory Council: NYC government advisory body that engages nonprofit and tenant stakeholders on affordable housing policy. Comparable in coalition-to-government engagement function, though operating as a government body rather than an independent nonprofit.

Direct peers

• Coalition for the Homeless: New York City-based advocacy coalition that has led policy and direct service work on homelessness for decades. Most direct comparable to HSU in geography, advocacy focus, and coalition model, though it also operates some direct services.
• Human Services Council of New York: NYC membership coalition of human-services nonprofits that advocates with city and state government on behalf of member agencies. Highly comparable to HSU in coalition/advocacy model and NYC focus.
• Supportive Housing Network of New York: Coalition of nonprofit supportive housing providers in New York State, focused on advocacy, training, and capacity-building for member agencies — overlapping with HSU's provider-support mission.

Broad incumbents

• National Low Income Housing Coalition: National advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring low-income households have access to affordable housing. Comparable to HSU on federal/state-level housing advocacy, though operating at greater scale and broader scope.
• National Alliance to End Homelessness: National nonprofit advocacy organization focused on ending homelessness in the U.S., with public education, policy, and research functions. Comparable to HSU's policy and public-education arms at a national scope.
• United Way of New York City: NYC-focused funder and convener of human-services nonprofits, providing grants, advocacy, and volunteer coordination. Comparable in NYC nonprofit-coalition role, though broader in mission.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National affordable housing and community development intermediary that combines capital, policy advocacy, and capacity-building. Comparable to HSU on advocacy for affordable housing expansion but at much larger scale and with capital deployment.
• Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH): National nonprofit that finances and advocates for supportive housing. Overlaps with HSU's mission; notably, HSU's Executive Director Kristin Miller previously led CSH's Metro Team.

Emerging players

• Community Solutions: National nonprofit running the Built for Zero initiative that helps cities measurably reduce homelessness. Comparable to HSU in mission, but distinct in operating program-level interventions rather than advocacy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/HSUNYC
• YouTubevimeo.com/user136351279/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/homelessservicesunited
• Instagraminstagram.com/hsunited_org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/homelessservicesunitedhsu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Homeless Services United (HSU)