HOMELESS EMPOWERMENT PROJECT INC
EIN 04-3203910 · Centers to Support the Independence of Specific Populations (P80)
What they do
SELLING "SPARE CHANGE NEWS" PROVIDES SELF-EMPLOYMENT to HOMELESS and LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS. VENDORS (SALESPEOPLE) PAY $ .50 for EACH COPY, SELLING THEM for $2.00, WHICH PROVIDES MUCH NEEDED INCOME and THE PRIDE IN HAVING AN HONORABLE JOB, OFTEN for THOSE WHO FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT to FIND MAINSTREAM WORK. THE WRITERS FUND EACH ISSUE of SPARE CHANGE NEWS and PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY for TWO or THREE VENDORS and LOW-INCOME WRITERS to PUBLISH THEIR WORK. THEY EARN $50 PER PUBLISHED PIECE, ALLOWING THE INTERESTED PUBLIC to HEAR THE VOICES of THESE MARGINALIZED PEOPLE. THE PAPER "SPARE CHANGE NEWS" is PUBLISHED to INFORM THE INTERESTED PUBLIC ABOUT CAUSES and POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS to HOMELESSNESS and POVERTY, to DESCRIBE FIRSTHAND REALITIES FACED BY POOR PEOPLE, and to ADDRESS ISSUES of SOCIAL JUSTICE IN GENERAL.
Should I give to this charity?
Of every $100 spent, about $76.20 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.
Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.
Basic facts we verified
IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.
Money report from 2022The report may be old. Ask for a newer one.
They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.
They name their leaders10 people are listed in the latest report.
You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.
Money made simple
Ask these three easy questions
- Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
- What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
- Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.
Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $439 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.
Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $4,140 for JUSTINA RIOPELLE (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.
Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.
Financial picture
A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.
How each $100 of revenue was used
The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.
Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.
Has the pattern changed?
Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.
Money in and money out
Reported spending amounts
Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.
See all reported dollar amounts
Leadership and board
Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.
People reported as paid
Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.
See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (10)
JUSTINA RIOPELLEEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ABIGAIL DERIGOFORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AL ACTIONBOARD MEMBER
BERYL LIPTONVICE PRESIDENT
JAMES SHEARERPRESIDENT
MARC GOLDFINGERBOARD MEMBER
MARK GREYBOARD MEMBER
NOAH HALLTREASURER
ROBERT SONDAKBOARD MEMBER
SAMUEL WEEMSCLERK-SECRETARY
About this charity
- Recognized since
- January 2024
- Location
- 1151 MASS AVE, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02138-5201
- County
- Middlesex
- In care of
- % FRANCES CZAJKOWSKI
- Primary officer
- NOAH HALL, TREASURER
How to reach them
Filing and classification
- Latest tax year
- 2022
- Tax period began
- July 1, 2022
- Return type
- 990EZ
- Tax preparer
- NARDELLA & TAYLOR LLP
- NTEE classification
- Centers to Support the Independence of Specific Populations (P80)
- IRS tax category
- Centers to Support the Independence of Specific Populations