Elevate NWO

What Elevate NWO does

Elevate NWO is a nonprofit community health organization headquartered at 102-106 Cumberland St North in Thunder Bay, Ontario, operating since 1987 with 17 employees and a volunteer Board of Directors. It functions as Northwestern Ontario's harm reduction and access-to-care hub, delivering HIV and Hepatitis C testing, treatment and prevention (including injectable PrEP), harm reduction supply distribution, naloxone training, street outreach, a daily drop-in centre, a warming centre serving nearly 100 people per day, and emergency weather response. Services are provided free of charge, confidentially, and without judgment to four primary population segments: people experiencing houselessness, people who use substances, people at risk of or living with HIV or Hepatitis C, and Indigenous peoples in Northwestern Ontario.

The organization's underlying operating model is community-based, low-barrier service delivery rather than a technology platform; no proprietary technology, API, or AI capabilities are present in the data. Distribution is anchored by a fixed drop-in site plus mobile street outreach, supported by a dedicated nursing team trained in harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and culturally-safe practices. Revenue is generated through cash donations (including PayPal Giving tax-receipted contributions) and government/grant funding streams, with specific funders not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is community-led: real-time drug alerts via whiteboards and word-of-mouth, street-level relationship building, and a deep referral and partnership ecosystem including the Ontario AIDS Network, NAHRO, Oahas, CATIE, CAAN, WHAI, GMSH, ACCHO, Action Hepatitis Canada, the Canadian Treatment Access Council, the Homelessness Coalition, and the OHTN Cohort Study.

Name

Elevate NWO

Legal name

Elevate NWO

Website

https://elevatenwo.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Elevate NWO is a Thunder Bay, Ontario nonprofit that delivers free, low-barrier HIV and Hepatitis C testing and treatment, harm reduction supplies, street outreach, and drop-in and warming centre services to people experiencing houselessness, people who use substances, and Indigenous communities across Northwestern Ontario.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health and Harm Reduction Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Emergency Shelter, NFIs & Winterization for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAG)

Keywords

• Harm reduction services
• HIV testing treatment
• Hepatitis C care
• Drop-in centre
• Community health nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Thunder Bay

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Cash donations support emergency resource distribution, access to medication, and responses to arising issues and needs in real-time. Accepts PayPal Giving donations which issue tax receipts for eligible amounts.
2. Government/Grant Funding: Based on organizational structure and services provided (community-based research, harm reduction programs, healthcare services), the organization likely operates with government and foundation grant funding, though specific funders are not disclosed in source materials.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Elevate NWO is a nonprofit community health organization that provides free, confidential, low-barrier harm reduction, HIV and Hepatitis C testing and treatment, drop-in and warming centre services, street outreach, and culturally-safe programming for people who use substances, people experiencing homelessness, and Indigenous communities in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. Services are delivered through a daily drop-in centre, mobile outreach, clinical nurses, and partnerships with Indigenous organizations, with all offerings provided at no cost to community members.

Product overview

Elevate NWO is Northwestern Ontario's harm reduction and access-to-care hub offering a unified set of integrated community health services. The core offerings include HIV Care Services (testing, PrEP, treatment, and long-term support), Hepatitis C Care Services (testing, treatment, and cure), Harm Reduction Services (supplies, street outreach, and naloxone training), and a Drop-in Centre providing meals, cultural connection, and navigation support. Additional services include Community Development advocacy, Home Base Warming Centre for homelessness support, and Emergency Weather Response. All services are free, confidential, and judgment-free, delivered with a harm-reduction philosophy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HIV Care Services Comprehensive HIV care including confidential testing, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) including injectable PrEP, treatment, and long-term support services delivered with compassion and respect for community members in Northwestern Ontario.
• Hepatitis C Care Services Hepatitis C prevention, testing, treatment, and cure services with walk-in testing available Monday to Friday, 9 AM – 2 PM, and wraparound support including blood work, medication plans, and counseling for community members in Northwestern Ontario.
• Harm Reduction Services On-site and street outreach harm reduction services providing sterile needles, syringes, pipes, naloxone training and free kits, and real-time alerts about dangerous or contaminated drugs for people who use drugs or alcohol in Thunder Bay.
• Drop-in Centre Daily drop-in centre providing hot breakfast, practical supports (Wi-Fi, computers, phone, fax), harm reduction supplies, cultural connection with Elder access, and one-on-one help with housing, healthcare, and ID navigation. Open Monday-Friday, 9AM-4PM at 102-106 Cumberland St North, Thunder Bay.
• Community Development Community advocacy and development efforts promoting harm reduction, equitable healthcare access, housing support, and collaboration with partners including the Homelessness Coalition, Ontario AIDS Network, and NAHRO across Northwestern Ontario.
• Home Base Warming Centre Warming centre providing safety, meals, and support for individuals affected by homelessness, serving nearly 100 people daily with breakfast, afternoon snacks, and access to care and services.
• Emergency Weather Response Emergency response service mobilizing to bring individuals experiencing homelessness indoors during severe weather events, providing immediate medical care through dedicated nursing staff; recently brought 58 individuals and 5 pets safely indoors with 1.5 hours' notice.
• PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) HIV prevention medication service providing testing, education, and access to PrEP in a confidential, judgment-free setting, including injectable PrEP administered every 4 weeks for community members at risk of HIV in Northwestern Ontario.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 100 people served daily at Home Base Warming Centre
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023OHTN Cohort Study established in 1996 is the largest community-governed HIV cohort in Ontario and one of the largest in North America. Elevate participates in research partnerships through this network.
• WHiSEr Together PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration between ENWO, Oahas, and partner organizations on WHiSEr Together project (2023-2025) centering Indigenous teachings within an HIV status-neutral daily drop-in program. Led by Holly Gauvin and Meghan Young.
• Homelessness CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElevate actively participates in the Homelessness Coalition as part of community development efforts to promote effective harm reduction and equitable access to housing.
• Kenora-Rainy River District Health Promotion NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on health promotion initiatives across the Kenora-Rainy River District region to advance harm reduction and health equity.
• Shared Streets ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative initiative supporting shared community spaces and services for marginalized populations.
• Ontario AIDS NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of AIDS Service Organizations working collectively to provide an effective response to HIV and AIDS, improve life for people infected and affected by HIV, and prevent virus spread across Ontario.
• Northern Alliance of Harm Reduction Organizations (NAHRO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional alliance of harm reduction organizations in Northern Ontario working together to address substance use, toxic drug supply, and health equity.
• Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy (Oahas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOahas provides culturally respectful and sensitive programs and strategies to respond to the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic among Aboriginal people in Ontario through promotion, prevention, long-term care, treatment and support initiatives consistent with harm reduction. Elevate partners with Oahas for Elder services, cultural programming, and Indigenous healing approaches.
• Women and HIV/AIDS Initiative (WHAI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based response to HIV and AIDS among cis and trans women in Ontario that takes into account the structural and societal factors that increase women's risk factors for HIV.
• Gay Men's Sexual Health Alliance (GMSH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of AIDS service organizations supporting members in building capacity to offer sexual health, HIV, and other services meeting needs of gay, bisexual, queer, two spirit and other men who have sex with men in Ontario.
• African and Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario (ACCHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial coalition of organizations and individuals committed to HIV prevention, education, advocacy, research, treatment, care and support for African, Caribbean and Black communities.
• Hello OntariominorOthersProvincial one-stop resource for HIV information in Ontario.
• Connex OntariominorOthersProvides free and confidential health services information for people experiencing problems with alcohol and drugs, mental illness or gambling. Live answer 24/7, confidential and free.
• CATIEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanada's official knowledge broker for HIV and hepatitis C, bridging research and practice by connecting healthcare and community-based service providers with the latest science on prevention and treatment programs.
• Halco (HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal services clinic providing services to persons living with HIV/AIDS in Ontario relevant to their well-being and enabling full community participation.
• HIV411.ca/HCV411.caminorOthersWeb portal listing service providers for people living with and at risk of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C in Canada.
• Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational forum for Aboriginal Peoples to address HIV and AIDS, HCV, STBBIs, TB, Mental Health, aging and related co-morbidity issues.
• Canadian Treatment Access CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrengthening treatment, care and support for people living with HIV and HIV/hepatitis C co-infection in Canada.
• Action Hepatitis CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational coalition engaging government, policy makers, and civil society across Canada to promote hepatitis B and C prevention, improve access to care and treatment.
• Sexual Health OntariominorOthersProvincial resource for sexual health information including sexually transmitted infections, contraception and fertility.
• PACE (Partner)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization that collaborated with Elevate during emergency weather response to bring 58 individuals and 5 pets safely indoors. Mike from PACE specifically acknowledged for making the life-saving effort possible.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT): Toronto-based AIDS service organization delivering HIV prevention, testing, treatment support, and harm reduction programming. Directly comparable to Elevate NWO in mission, HIV/STBBI service mix, and community-based delivery model, though operating at much larger urban scale.
• Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy (Oahas): Provincial Indigenous-led organization responding to HIV/AIDS among Aboriginal people in Ontario through prevention, treatment, and culturally-safe programming. Directly comparable given Elevate's close partnership with Oahas and shared Indigenous harm-reduction focus.
• Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN): National Indigenous forum addressing HIV, HCV, STBBIs, TB, and mental health among Aboriginal Peoples. Comparable as a higher-tier partner in Elevate's Indigenous health strategy with overlapping scope on HIV and harm reduction.
• Toronto People With AIDS Foundation: Ontario AIDS service organization providing practical, emotional, and social support for people living with HIV. Comparable in HIV-focused service delivery, lived-experience integration, and wraparound care philosophy.
• AIDS Committee of Ottawa (ACO): Ottawa-based AIDS service organization offering HIV/HCV prevention, harm reduction, and community development. Directly comparable as an Ontario-based HIV-focused nonprofit serving marginalized populations.
• Nine Circles Community Health Centre: Winnipeg-based community health centre providing HIV/HCV testing and treatment, harm reduction, and primary care to marginalized populations. Highly comparable as a regional integrated HIV/hepatitis C and harm reduction hub outside major urban centres.
• Inner City Health Associates: Toronto-based organization providing street-health and primary care to people experiencing homelessness and substance use. Comparable for street-outreach clinical model and care for unhoused populations in urban settings.
• Sandy Hill Community Health Centre: Ottawa community health centre offering harm reduction, supervised consumption services, primary care, and social supports to marginalized populations. Closely mirrors Elevate's integrated harm-reduction-plus-health-access approach in a different Ontario region.

Broad incumbents

• PHS Community Services Society: Vancouver-based nonprofit operating housing, harm reduction, and integrated health services pioneered the harm-reduction housing model. Comparable in combining harm reduction, shelter/warming services, and community-based health care, but at significantly larger scale and broader service portfolio.

Emerging players

• Lookout Housing + Health Society: British Columbia-based nonprofit providing housing, harm reduction, and health services to people experiencing homelessness and substance use. Comparable mission and integrated housing-plus-health model, though operating across a larger BC footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elevate-nwo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Elevate NWO