Solid Ground
Solid Ground is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 that delivers free anti-poverty services across King County, Washington, including housing, food access, legal aid, Medicare counseling, and advocacy for people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and domestic violence.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Solid Ground does
Solid Ground is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) anti-poverty nonprofit (EIN# 23-7421892) founded in 1974 as Fremont Public Association and renamed in 2007. It serves residents of Seattle and King County, Washington, through a comprehensive portfolio of direct social services rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include HUD-certified Tenant Services, the JourneyHome Rapid Rehousing program, the North Seattle Regional Access Point for Coordinated Entry and shelter diversion, Broadview Shelter & Transitional Housing for domestic violence survivors (the only Seattle DV shelter accepting self-referral for individuals with children), a Family Shelter, and the 183-unit Sand Point Housing campus in Magnuson Park. Supplementary services include a Benefits Attorneys legal team for public benefits access, the SHIBA statewide Medicare counseling program in partnership with the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, food access programs including the Giving Garden at Marra Farm, accessible transportation, the Resource Wire newsletter, and advocacy in partnership with the Statewide Poverty Action Network. The organization operates under a Housing First, trauma-informed, and anti-racism framework formalized through its 2001 Anti-Racism Initiative.
Solid Ground is funded through three primary streams: foundation and individual donations (including a 50th Anniversary Groundswell Gala that raised close to $300,000), government grants from entities such as the City of Seattle and King County, and corporate sponsorships anchored by a 20+ year partnership with U.S. Bank. All beneficiary services are provided free of charge, and no one is turned away for inability to pay. Distribution is regional and direct: physical facilities (most notably Sand Point Housing), community workshops and webinars, partner referrals, and outreach services within King County, with the SHIBA Medicare program extending statewide.
Solid Ground is led by CEO Shalimar Gonzales and Board Chair Mary Ruffin (a former Sand Point Housing resident appointed in 2023). It is governed by a Board of Directors whose selection is influenced by a Community Accountability Council (CAC) comprising people with lived experience of poverty and homelessness. The organization employs 251–500 staff and contractors and is currently executing its Vision 2030 strategic plan, developed through 17 listening sessions with 70+ stakeholders and targeting expanded youth programming and behavioral health services. There is no parent company, equity sponsor, or venture capital involvement; ownership commentary confirms independent 501(c)(3) governance.
Solid Ground firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solid Ground
- Legal name
- Solid Ground
- Website
- https://solid-ground.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Solid Ground is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 that delivers free anti-poverty services across King County, Washington, including housing, food access, legal aid, Medicare counseling, and advocacy for people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and domestic violence.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solid Ground industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Services - Anti-Poverty & Homeless Services
- NAICS
- Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)
Keywords
Where Solid Ground is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Solid Ground business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation and Individual Donations: Charitable donations from foundations (PSE Foundation) and individual donors. The 50th Anniversary Gala generated close to $300,000 in donations. EIN# 23-7421892.
- Government Funding: Funding from government entities including City of Seattle and King County to support housing, anti-poverty programs, and community services.
- Corporate Partnerships: Long-term partnerships with corporations like U.S. Bank (20+ years) supporting Tenant Services, Statewide Poverty Action Network, and Sand Point Housing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Solid Ground product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solid Ground is a Seattle-based nonprofit that delivers direct social services to people experiencing poverty and homelessness in King County, Washington. Its core offerings include affordable and supportive housing (Sand Point Housing campus with 183 units), HUD-certified tenant counseling and eviction prevention, rapid rehousing and emergency shelter programs, legal advocacy for public benefits, free Medicare counseling via SHIBA, food access programs, transportation assistance, and systems advocacy through partnerships like the Statewide Poverty Action Network.
Product overview
Solid Ground is a nonprofit anti-poverty organization offering a comprehensive suite of social services in Seattle and King County, Washington. Rather than a unified software product, it provides direct human services across housing, food access, legal aid, healthcare counseling, transportation, and advocacy. Core housing programs include Tenant Services (HUD-certified housing counseling), JourneyHome Rapid Rehousing, Regional Access Point shelter diversion, Broadview DV shelter, Family Shelter, and Sand Point Housing campus (183 units). Legal services include Benefits Attorneys for public benefits access. Healthcare programs include SHIBA Medicare counseling. Food programs include the Giving Garden at Marra Farm. Additional services include Resource Wire newsletter, transportation assistance, and advocacy partnerships. The organization operates under a Housing First philosophy with trauma-informed, anti-racism approaches.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tenant Services HUD-certified housing counseling program providing tenant resources, eviction prevention, guidance on Washington State landlord-tenant law, housing search support, and educational webinars including Rent Smart and Inquilinos Inteligentes.
- JourneyHome Rapid Rehousing Rapid rehousing and case management program for families with children experiencing homelessness in King County, providing housing search assistance and flexible funding to help families achieve housing stability.
- Regional Access Point (RAP) — Shelter Diversion North Seattle entry point to Coordinated Entry providing resource connections and diversion services to help people experiencing homelessness explore housing options without entering the shelter system.
- Broadview Shelter and Transitional Housing Emergency shelter and transitional housing for domestic violence survivors and their children using trauma-informed care, with case management, children's programs, support groups, and housing search assistance. The only DV shelter in Seattle where individuals with children can self-refer.
- Family Shelter Short-term housing in furnished apartments for families and single-parent households with children 18 and younger, offering comprehensive case management and housing search assistance.
- Sand Point Housing Permanent supportive housing and affordable housing campus in Seattle's Magnuson Park with 183 townhomes and apartments for formerly homeless families and individuals, featuring onsite support services. Includes Brettler Family Place, Sand Point Family Housing, Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney Place, and Santos Place.
- Benefits Attorneys — Legal Help Accessing Public Benefits Legal team providing information, advice, and representation for people whose state public assistance benefits (Basic Food, Apple Health, TANF, Working Connections Child Care, ABD) have been reduced, terminated, or denied. Includes administrative hearing representation and training for community service providers.
- SHIBA — Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors Volunteer Medicare counseling program providing free, unbiased, and confidential assistance helping people understand Medicare rights and options through one-on-one consultations via phone, video chat, or in-person appointments. Offered in partnership with Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
- Resource Wire Weekly email newsletter delivering current community resources, job opportunities, housing information, healthcare resources, social services, and community events for people living on low incomes.
- Giving Garden at Marra Farm Urban farming and food access program hosting student field trips and farm tours at Marra Farm in South Park, offering garden exploration for preschool to middle school students and service learning opportunities for middle and high school students. Produce is donated to local food banks and meal programs.
- Accessible Transportation Services Transportation assistance program helping people access services, employment, and community resources.
- Advocacy Systems advocacy work partnering with Statewide Poverty Action Network to advocate for policy changes addressing root causes of poverty, including work on issues like the Washington State Housing Trust Fund and Seattle Housing Levy.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2,500+ people housed since 1999 at Sand Point Housing
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Solid Ground
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Solid Ground technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Solid Ground partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Statewide Poverty Action NetworkcoreAdvocacy partner organization working on poverty reduction policy at the state level. Solid Ground supports this network as a key partner in systemic change efforts, including successful advocacy for the Millionaire's Tax.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Solid Ground competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center): Seattle nonprofit operating permanent supportive housing, shelter, and behavioral health services for people experiencing homelessness. Closely aligned model combining housing operations with case management and clinical services.
- Mary's Place: Seattle-based family shelter and housing nonprofit serving families experiencing homelessness. Comparable emergency shelter, family housing, and wraparound services model.
- Compass Housing Alliance: Seattle-based nonprofit providing housing, shelter, and supportive services across King County. Directly comparable operating model — multi-site housing, shelter, and wraparound services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty.
- Catholic Community Services of Western Washington: Western Washington human services nonprofit offering housing, homelessness services, food assistance, and immigration/refugee services. Directly comparable multi-program anti-poverty portfolio in the same region.
- YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish: Regional YWCA operating domestic violence shelters, housing, and wraparound services. Closely comparable to Solid Ground's Broadview DV shelter and family housing programs in the Seattle/King County area.
- Plymouth Housing: Seattle nonprofit providing permanent supportive housing and resident services for people exiting homelessness. Comparable housing-first operating model with on-site supportive services in King County.
- Lifelong: Seattle-based nonprofit integrating housing, health, and nutrition services for people living with chronic illness or experiencing homelessness. Comparable integrated housing-plus-health model.
- Seattle's Union Gospel Mission: Seattle faith-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, meals, addiction recovery, and housing services. Comparable direct-service delivery to people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Seattle.
- Hopelink: King County nonprofit providing housing, food, emergency financial assistance, and supportive services to low-income residents. Comparable service mix and geographic footprint.
Broad incumbents
- King County Housing Authority: Public housing authority administering Section 8 vouchers and subsidized housing across King County. Overlaps with Solid Ground on permanent supportive housing (Santos Place uses Housing Choice Vouchers) but operates at much larger scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Solid Ground social profiles
Digital presenceSolid Ground compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Solid Ground financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solid Ground leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Solid Ground funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solid Ground M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Solid Ground
What does Solid Ground do?
Solid Ground is a Seattle-based nonprofit that delivers direct social services to people experiencing poverty and homelessness in King County, Washington. Its core offerings include affordable and supportive housing (Sand Point Housing campus with 183 units), HUD-certified tenant counseling and eviction prevention, rapid rehousing and emergency shelter programs, legal advocacy for public benefits, free Medicare counseling via SHIBA, food access programs, transportation assistance, and systems advocacy through partnerships like the Statewide Poverty Action Network.
Is Solid Ground a public or private company?
Solid Ground is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Solid Ground founded?
Solid Ground was founded in 1974. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Solid Ground based?
Solid Ground is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Solid Ground make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Foundation and Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are government Funding and corporate Partnerships.
Who are Solid Ground's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center), Mary's Place, Compass Housing Alliance, Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish, Plymouth Housing, Lifelong, Seattle's Union Gospel Mission and Hopelink. King County Housing Authority is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Solid Ground have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solid Ground.
What industry is Solid Ground in?
Solid Ground's product category is Social Services - Anti-Poverty & Homeless Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAB, Housing Assistance & Homeless Services, with a secondary code of BPAGALAC, Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts). Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.