Housing Matters

What it reported doing in 2024

Founded in 1986, Housing Matters is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that partners with individuals and families in Santa Cruz County to create pathways out of their homelessness into permanent housing. We hold firmly to a vision that homelessness in Santa Cruz County should be rare, brief, and non-recurring. We are committed to providing programs based on Housing First practices. Housing First is a recovery-oriented, data-driven approach that centers on quickly moving people experiencing homelessness into independent and permanent housing and providing additional support and services as needed. By utilizing evidence-based practices, Housing Matters is successfully exceeding goals in housing some of the most vulnerable populations in the county.Housing Matters provides a continuum of services through the following programs:1.The Loft Emergency Shelter (the Loft) provides emergency shelter to up to 57 people nightly.2.Rebele Family Shelter (RFS) provides emergency shelter to families with children and provides stable shelter to 28 families (up to 90 individuals) at any given time.3.The Recuperative Care Center (RCC) is a 35 bed medical respite shelter operated in partnership with Santa Cruz County's Homeless Persons Health Project and several local healthcare organizations.4.Supportive Services and Housing Navigation programs connect individuals and families with appropriate housing solutions and provide after-housing services to support long-term housing success.5.Casa Azul is a permanent supportive housing program with seven units, providing stable housing and wraparound services for individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness.Housing Matters' campus provides a restorative experience with access to on-site medical, dental, and mental health care through our partners: Santa Cruz County's Homeless Persons Health Project and Dientes. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, we served 3857 individuals through a variety of programs. We provided over 57,703 bed nights, served 64,246 meals, sheltered 471 people, helped 479 people find permanent housing, and provided case management and supportive services to 1372 people through a variety of programs.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 47.2%; rating input score 47
• Program expense ratio: 81.7%; rating input score 82
• Fundraising efficiency: $23.33 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 42.4%; rating input score 92; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.46; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.32; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 3.8%; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 14.5% per year; rating input score 100; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 17.6% per year; rating input score 100; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 17% per year; rating input score 100; 85th percentile among comparable filings