About
Community Solutions is a New York-based nonprofit working to create a lasting end to homelessness in the United States. Founded in 2011 by Rosanne Haggerty, the organization leads Built for Zero, a national movement of more than 100 cities and counties using real-time data and coordinated action to make homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring.
Mission
Community Solutions' mission is to create a lasting end to homelessness that leaves no one behind. The organization envisions an equitable society in which homelessness is never inevitable or inescapable.
What they do
- Built for Zero: a national network of 100+ communities working to measurably reduce homelessness with an emphasis on speed, coordination and accountability, driven by quality real-time data on every person experiencing homelessness.
- Preventing housing loss: addressing the upstream drivers that push people into homelessness.
- Rapid housing response systems: helping communities build coordinated systems that house people quickly.
- Expanding affordable housing: growing the supply of housing available to people exiting homelessness.
Built for Zero communities aim for functional zero, the milestone reached when fewer people are experiencing homelessness than are being housed at any given time and housing placements outpace inflow. The organization stresses that functional zero is not a one-time achievement but requires continuous system performance and sustained accountability.
History
Community Solutions was founded in 2011 by Rosanne Haggerty, who spent 20 years in affordable housing development before launching the organization. By its own account, in Community Solutions' first four years its work helped 25 times as many people as the team's previous 20 years of work combined.
Scale and impact
The organization works with more than 150 cities and counties across the country. Among results it reports from Built for Zero communities: several communities, including Fremont County (CO), Abilene (TX) and Rockford (IL), have made homelessness rare and brief for at least one population, while Detroit reduced veteran homelessness by 33% and Charlotte by 20%.
Financials
Per Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, Community Solutions International Inc (EIN 27-3523909) reported for fiscal year 2024 total revenue of $25.4 million, total expenses of $40.0 million, total assets of $183.2 million, and net assets of $129.5 million. In fiscal year 2023 it reported revenue of $25.5 million and expenses of $39.0 million. The IRS granted its tax exemption in March 2011.
Governance
Community Solutions is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 27-3523909) led by founder and President Rosanne Haggerty, headquartered at 519 Rockaway Ave, Brooklyn, NY.