City Relief / The Relief Bus 
The information on this page was last updated 3/13/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
At City Relief, we connect people who are hurting and homeless to resources they need to survive, and the hope they need to try. When everything falls apart, the long journey back begins one step at a time: emergency shelter, food, socks, ID, detox, employment, and the belief that a brighter future is possible!
Contact information
Mailing address:
City Relief
35 Hazel St.
Clifton, NJ 07011
Website: cityrelief.org
Phone: 973-330-0548
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 112974154
CEO/President: Josiah Haken
Chairman: Launa Vaughn
Board size: 13
Founder: Richard Galloway
Ruling year: 1994
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2016
Purpose
Since 1989, City Relief has served over 725,708 individuals experiencing housing insecurity in NYC and New Jersey. We work alongside a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, in collaboration with community-based organizations and local partners committed to addressing homelessness.
We consistently and compassionately offer hope, innovative care, and ongoing services that ultimately lead to life transformation for NYC/NJ Metro area individuals struggling with homelessness and economic insecurity. Our work is guided by four key strategies: providing personalized support, building an accessible network of care, promoting empathetic narratives, and equipping and empowering rising leaders. The first two strategies reflect our direct engagement with guests, ensuring they receive tailored assistance and connections to essential resources. The latter two focus on mobilizing volunteers and the broader community to drive awareness, foster empathy, and develop leadership committed to sustainable change.
Mission statement
City Relief exists to end homelessness for individuals and communities by:
Providing personalized support to people without stable housing
Building an accessible network of care
Promoting empathetic narratives about homelessness that recognize every person's value
Equipping and empowering rising leaders to fight economic injustice
Statement of faith
City Relief is a Jesus-centered organization committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We believe every person is infinitely valuable because Christ died for all, and we seek to demonstrate God's love through compassionate service and justice for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness in New York City and New Jersey.
The following characteristics best describe the City Relief community:
Jesus-centered (Matthew 25:31-40): We strive to continually put Jesus as the center of
our worship (both within and outside of City Relief) and intentionally model the example of Jesus, especially in his care for the poor, disadvantaged, marginalized, and oppressed. Our desire is for a deeper relationship with Jesus that supersedes our desire for all else. We believe that the Bible is God's inspired word to all people and relevant to our daily lives.
We subscribe to the following statements from the Apostle's Creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living
and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
We believe that people have an amount of control over their destinies, and we value initiative and excellence. However, we balance these with quality of life, sabbath, and an inner spiritual journey. We trust that God will cover what we lack.
Justice (Isaiah 58:6-12, Luke 4:18-19): We believe in biblical justice, which is holistic and compassionate. Concern extends to all people and all nature. High priority is given to altruism, benevolence, and love. Being sensitive to all forms of discrimination (racial, socioeconomic, etc.) and responsible for promoting and advocating for the well-being of others. We strive to value, hear, and respond to viewpoints/perspectives of all individuals regardless of background, status, role, etc.
Unity: We trust that God has anointed each person in their role within the organization and that we can only accomplish His vision by leveraging each other and each other's gifts. We strive for a mission-focused team: One that honors our commitments, builds up the community, and is generous and flexible in supporting the mission both individually and collectively. We acknowledge that while perspectives and ideas may be different across individuals, we are unified in Jesus and in the mission and seek to resolve conflicts Biblically.
Articles
| 4/16/2026 | Asbury Theological Seminary, Administer Justice Drop in Financial Efficiency Ratings |
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 403 of 1435 | 47 of 162 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 904 of 1435 | 92 of 162 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 606 of 1435 | 62 of 162 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 131 of 1436 | 16 of 162 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 10% | 11% | 12% | 9% | 16% | 10% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 8% | 11% | 11% | 9% | 16% | 9% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 93% | 99% | 88% | 99% | 99% | 99% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 9% | 11% | 10% | 9% | 15% | 10% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 7% | 1% | 12% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 83% | 82% | 84% | 76% | 70% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 97% | 104% | 101% | 100% | 110% | 91% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 86% | 83% | 84% | 84% | 64% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 3% | -4% | -1% | 0% | -10% | 9% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | -19% | -5% | 1% | -54% | 34% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 6% | 8% | 6% | 9% | 20% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.56 | 2.45 | 2.32 | 3.43 | 5.20 | 3.41 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 3.05 | 2.00 | 2.27 | 1.40 | 2.68 | 1.78 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.08 | 4.88 | 5.28 | 4.81 | 13.95 | 6.06 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 10.26 | 1.67 | 3.45 | 1.89 | 3.64 | 10.16 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.60 | 0.29 | 0.53 | 0.27 | 0.10 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.14 | 0.99 | 1.61 | 1.17 | 0.62 | 1.79 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 9% | 55% | 41% | 38% | 10% | 6% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 145% | 18% | 25% | 18% | 17% | 28% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $562,190 | $747,089 | $651,629 | $340,624 | $806,162 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $713,561 | $269,830 | $719,223 | $39,091 | $29,887 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,275,751 | $1,016,919 | $1,370,852 | $379,715 | $836,049 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $714,524 | $664,241 | $550,787 | $631,698 | $649,634 |
| Other long-term assets | $556,285 | $627,319 | $1,400 | $6,883 | $1,400 |
| Total long-term assets | $1,270,809 | $1,291,560 | $552,187 | $638,581 | $651,034 |
| Total assets | $2,546,560 | $2,308,479 | $1,923,039 | $1,018,296 | $1,487,083 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $131,691 | $92,987 | $73,343 | $104,370 | $82,306 |
| Other current liabilities | $630,570 | $202,141 | $653,500 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $762,261 | $295,128 | $726,843 | $104,370 | $82,306 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $633,619 | $647,864 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $633,619 | $647,864 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $1,395,880 | $942,992 | $726,843 | $104,370 | $82,306 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $936,950 | $1,365,487 | $1,108,696 | $913,926 | $1,354,778 |
| With donor restrictions | $213,730 | $0 | $87,500 | $0 | $50,000 |
| Net assets | $1,150,680 | $1,365,487 | $1,196,196 | $913,926 | $1,404,777 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $5,961,244 | $4,645,334 | $6,553,871 | $4,742,006 | $5,494,463 |
| Program service revenue | $32,477 | $52,948 | $49,401 | $64,729 | $50,739 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $20,510 | $33,931 | $1,787 | $268 | $976 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $559,945 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $52,987 | $646,824 | $51,188 | $64,997 | $51,715 |
| Total revenue | $6,014,231 | $5,292,158 | $6,605,059 | $4,807,003 | $5,546,178 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $5,178,649 | $4,387,870 | $5,551,814 | $4,050,920 | $3,541,417 |
| Management and general | $381,641 | $414,357 | $428,342 | $466,757 | $999,098 |
| Fundraising | $668,748 | $563,349 | $618,692 | $780,177 | $523,924 |
| Total expenses | $6,229,038 | $5,365,576 | $6,598,848 | $5,297,854 | $5,064,439 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($214,807) | ($73,418) | $6,211 | ($490,851) | $481,739 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($214,807) | ($73,418) | $6,211 | ($490,851) | $481,739 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Elysia Saint-Ange | COO | $124,333 |
| Josiah Haken | CEO | $91,884 |
Compensation data as of: 9/30/2025
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 3/13/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
OUR STORY BEGAN WITH ISAIAH 58 AND AN ENTREPRENEURIAL COUPLE FROM DALLAS, TEXAS.
When Richard and Dixie Galloway, the founders of City Relief, read Isaiah 58, they immediately felt challenged by God's concern for the poor and oppressed. They felt they were being called to action, and gained a vision of how they could respond.
They reached out to their friend Alastair Geddes. Alastair was the President of Christ for the Nations Bible Institute on Long Island. Alastair offered them an old school bus and invited Richard and Dixie to come to New York and lead a mobile outreach.
The Galloways visited New York City and bravely decided to take on the challenge of converting a bus to serve people experiencing homelessness. They decided to call their new organization New York City Relief, now known as City Relief.
Within a month, the Galloways left Texas and made the move to New York to follow a dream. There was no funding for the organization and no salary for Richard and Dixie to support their family-just a vision and a few audacious people committed to making it a reality.
The Galloways mobilized a team of volunteers and spent hundreds of hours converting a 1971 GMC bus into a mobile resource center to serve those struggling with homelessness.
The organization was and continues to be, funded through the generosity of private donors. City Relief began operating in February 1989, using donated office space, and has been faithfully operating ever since.
Program accomplishments
Over 37 years, City Relief has:
Served over 8 million servings of food and beverages.
Connected over 823,000 people to help and hope.
Mobilized over 121,000 volunteers to serve with our outreach.
Needs
Over 350,000 individuals in the NYC Metro area face housing insecurity, marking a crisis unmatched in the past century. This growing instability stems from a confluence of systemic barriers-high housing costs, inadequate infrastructure, harmful stereotypes, and limited access to essential services. Recognizing these challenges, City Relief envisions a transformative 10-year impact: building networks of care that connect 1 in 50 individuals in NYC and NJ facing housing insecurity (at least 7,000 people annually) to essential resources that foster wellbeing, enhance stability, and strengthen inclusive communities. At the heart of this effort is a commitment to community leadership, particularly by those with lived experience, who are critical to reshaping narratives and driving sustainable solutions. Grounded in a trauma-informed, community-centered approach, through our mission we seek to empower individuals, strengthen networks, and reimagine what is possible for those in need.