How ThresholdCoC distributed $122M in housing assistance with BILL

In the long, cold winters of Nebraska and Iowa, getting evicted from your home can be a matter of life or death. That's why ThresholdCoC, a nonprofit organization that distributes millions in emergency funding each year, needs to process payments fast.

"One of the things we do is work directly with eviction cases, distributing emergency relief funds," explains Heather Tomczak, Director of Operations at ThresholdCoC. "Landlords need those checks in hours, not weeks. Before BILL, tracking payments was incredibly difficult and time-consuming. We'd spend days, sometimes weeks, trying to get payment information from our accountant. Now, I can log into BILL and immediately see payment status in real-time, which allows us to respond quickly to landlords and tenants facing eviction."

During the height of the pandemic, ThresholdCoC distributed over $122M in a single year in emergency rental assistance. The work they were doing was vital, but the challenge of getting that money in the right hands in time to keep the elderly and families with small children in their homes was significant.

“Before BILL, tracking payments was incredibly difficult and time-consuming. Now, I can log into BILL and immediately see payment status in real-time.”

Challenge: Managing millions in critical funding with minimal staff

With just 12-15 employees at the time, the responsibility of distributing $122M to financially insecure individuals and families felt overwhelming.

"When I joined the organization in 2022, the organization was in a lot of transition," recalls Tomczak. "We had outsourced our accounting, with no direct access to our banking information, and invoices weren't getting paid on time. There was no accountability around payment timing, which was devastating for the people we serve."

The stakes couldn't have been higher. With thousands of families depending on timely payments to maintain their housing, each delayed check meant another family might face homelessness. Yet the organization's manual processes made it virtually impossible to keep up with the volume.

"In one month alone, we were distributing close to $7 million," says Tomczak. "I was personally entering thousands of payment records daily, trying to keep up with the volume. We'd have to text our executive director to get urgent bills approved, and then wait days or weeks to know if those payments had actually gone out."

Solution: BILL Accounts Payable

ThresholdCoC implemented BILL Accounts Payable to transform their payment process, giving them direct control over their financial operations with the oversight they so desperately needed.

"The impact was immediate," Tomczak says. "Instead of waiting weeks for our accountant to tell us if a payment had been processed, we can see everything in real-time. When a landlord calls about a tenant in eviction court who was approved for payment, I can immediately check the status—whether the check is in transit, was returned, or needs to be expedited."

Along with real-time visibility, ThresholdCoC also gained the flexibility the team needed to make sure nothing was left to chance. "For eviction cases, we can adjust our approach—sending it via expedited ACH, or via UPS rather than regular mail if the landlord insists on a check. That kind of individual response simply wasn't possible before."

Today, the platform's automated notifications have improved relationships with landlords and vendors alike. "Our vendors appreciate BILL's automatic notifications when we submit a payment. They know exactly when to expect funds, which builds trust and improves our working relationships."

Results: From financial chaos to strategic impact

By implementing BILL, ThresholdCoC has transformed more than their financial operations—they've improved their ability to fulfill their mission. 

"BILL has actually helped me in our fundraising efforts," explains Tomczak. "It's not just the hours of time it saves me. BILL lets me assess our numbers, analyze our outcomes, and showcase our impact to existing and potential funders. That's critical for an organization like ours. We need to demonstrate the value of our work to secure ongoing funding. BILL has given me the bandwidth and the tools I need to do that."

The platform's integration with QuickBooks has further streamlined operations. "The sync between BILL and QuickBooks Online is seamless," says Tomczak. "I get a notification if I forget to categorize a bill or if something's missing a receipt, which helps me maintain accurate records for financials and auditing."

Those notifications have saved Tomczak a lot of manual work when it comes to approvals, too. "Our executive director does a lot of running around town. Before BILL, I had to text him whenever I needed an urgent bill approved. Now, he gets automatic notifications, and he just uses his app on his phone to review and approve them."

Security has also improved significantly. "I'm no longer collecting sensitive banking information from vendors," Tomczak notes. "That was a real concern before—the confidentiality risks if someone got access to that paper documentation. Having BILL handle that securely removes a major liability."

“BILL has helped in our fundraising efforts. It lets me assess our numbers, analyze our outcomes, and showcase our impact to existing and potential funders.”

Summary: Supporting vulnerable communities through efficient operations

For ThresholdCoC, the impact of BILL extends far beyond operational efficiency—it directly affects the lives of the 15,000 households they serve across Nebraska and Iowa.

"When you work with families living below the poverty line, time is critical," Tomczak reflects. "We serve people living on fixed incomes, single mothers with children, elderly people on Social Security—they're one missed payment away from homelessness. BILL helps us ensure they stay housed by making our payment processes reliable and transparent."

As government emergency rental assistance funding winds down in 2025, the organization is focused on securing new sources of support. "We need to fill the gap that will be left when these emergency funds end," says Tomczak. "It's much easier and more cost-effective to keep someone stably housed than to help them once they're on the street. BILL helps us operate efficiently so we can focus on that mission."