Housing Works
Corporate brand
UnclaimedHousing Works is a New York City–born nonprofit organization whose healthcare, housing, advocacy, and social-enterprise businesses support people affected by HIV/AIDS, homelessness, and poverty.
Last updated September 25, 2026
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Overview
Housing Works is a nonprofit organization and social-enterprise brand born out of New York City’s AIDS crisis. Since 1990, it has provided services to homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. The organization describes its broader purpose as advancing inclusive care and social justice while working to end homelessness. Its work combines advocacy and direct services. Advocacy efforts seek funding, legislation, HIV prevention and treatment access, quality housing and healthcare, and legal protections against stigma and discrimination. Services include housing, healthcare, meals and nutritional counseling, mental-health and substance-use treatment, job training, and legal assistance. Housing Works says it develops deeply affordable and supportive housing for New Yorkers and connects residents with services after they are housed. The organization also operates social enterprises, including Housing Works Thrift Shops, an online shop, and a Bookstore Cafe. The businesses raise funds for its mission and provide employment opportunities, including jobs for clients who complete its job-training program. Donations of goods, furniture, and money, along with fundraising events such as Design on a Dime, are additional ways it supports its work. Housing Works identifies advocacy offices in New York City, Albany, Washington, D.C., Haiti, and Puerto Rico.
History
Housing Works emerged from New York City’s AIDS crisis and has provided services since 1990 to homeless and low-income people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Its development reflects an integrated approach: the organization presents stable housing as a foundation for health and pairs direct support with advocacy for policy, funding, and legal protections. Over time, Housing Works built a range of services around that mission. The organization describes its support as including housing and healthcare, meals and nutritional counseling, mental-health and substance-use treatment, job training, and legal assistance. It reports having served more than 30,000 homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Its housing work includes developing deeply affordable and supportive housing and connecting residents with services once they are housed. A defining feature of Housing Works is its use of social enterprise to support nonprofit work. Its official site describes the organization as a pioneer of the model in which business profits fund the mission of a parent nonprofit. Housing Works Thrift Shops, its online shop, and its Bookstore Cafe both raise funds and contribute employment opportunities, including jobs for clients who complete job training. The organization also solicits donated goods and furniture and invites monetary and corporate donations. Advocacy remains a central part of the organization’s identity. Housing Works campaigns for access to housing, healthcare, HIV prevention information and treatment, and protections against stigma and discrimination. It describes itself as a grassroots organization that uses non-violent civil disobedience. Its advocacy offices span New York City, Albany, Washington, D.C., Haiti, and Puerto Rico. The organization also runs events and benefits, including Design on a Dime, and describes its present-day work as joining integrated healthcare, services, advocacy, and social enterprises to advance a more compassionate and equitable society.
- 1990
Begins providing services
Products and positioning
A mission-led nonprofit and social-enterprise organization that connects advocacy and lifesaving services with retail and other businesses whose proceeds support its work.
Housing Works Thrift Shops
Thrift retail businesses that help fund Housing Works services and provide community employment opportunities.
Housing Works Online Shop
An online retail business identified by Housing Works as part of its fundraising social enterprises.
Housing Works Bookstore Cafe
A bookstore and cafe business that supports the organization’s mission and hosts events.
Housing Works Community Healthcare
A network of healthcare providers intended to make care accessible in the neighborhoods where people live.
Recent events
Sources4 sources
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