AURORA COMMONS

What AURORA COMMONS does

Aurora Commons is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 that operates a neighborhood living room and day shelter at 8914 Aurora Ave N in Seattle, Washington, serving unhoused neighbors and people experiencing poverty along the North Aurora corridor. The organization delivers a portfolio of in-person services including a drop-in program (Monday-Thursday 10am-1pm), Women's Night drop-in, People's Kitchen, harm reduction and resource bridging services, and the Bad Date List safety resource for women experiencing commercial sexual exploitation. Healthcare is provided through on-site walk-in clinics including the Aurora Clinic (launched November 2021) and the SHE Clinic (launched July 2018), both operated in partnership with UW Harborview Medical Center, plus a SUBS Clinic for opioid use disorder treatment re-launched with Neighborcare Health.

The organization reached 62% year-over-year growth in visits and 47% growth in advocacy support in 2024, supported by a staff of 19 and a network of referral partners including DESC, LEAD, YWCA, REST, and People's Harm Reduction Alliance. Revenue is generated through individual donations, annual benefit events (the Aurora Means Dawn gala raised $205,212 in March 2025 versus $145,000+ in March 2024), institutional grants from the Washington State Legislature, City of Seattle, Bethany Community Church, and the Heartsprung Fund, plus in-kind donations of supplies. The organization owns its permanent property, acquired in 2021 through a $1M+ capital raise led by Bethany Community Church, providing operational stability and capacity for clinical expansion. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is entirely relationship-based and in-person.

Name

AURORA COMMONS

Legal name

Aurora Commons

Website

https://auroracommons.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aurora Commons is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a neighborhood day shelter and drop-in center in Seattle that provides meals, clothing, hygiene supplies, on-site health clinics, and resource bridging to unhoused neighbors along Aurora Ave N.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Community Social Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Care for Underserved Populations (e.g., migrant, homeless, refugee clinics) (HLAFAGAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH)

Keywords

• Homeless drop-in services
• Community health clinics
• Harm reduction programs
• Women's safety resources
• Unhoused community outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission to serve unhoused neighbors. Donors can give via check, stock, or online.
2. Benefit Events: Annual fundraising events such as the Aurora Means Dawn benefit gala generate significant contributions. The 2024 event raised over $205,000.
3. Institutional Grants and Funding: Funding from government sources (State Legislature, City of Seattle), religious organizations (Bethany Community Church), and philanthropic funds (Heartsprung Fund) support operations and property acquisition.
4. In-Kind Donations: Donations of clothing, hygiene products, food, and other supplies from individuals and organizations, reducing direct purchasing costs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Aurora Commons operates a neighborhood drop-in center in Seattle providing free, in-person services to unhoused neighbors and people experiencing poverty, including meals, clothing, hygiene supplies, laundry, and community gathering space (Mon-Thurs 10am-1pm). On-site health clinics (Aurora Clinic, SHE Clinic, SUBS Clinic, Walk-In Health Clinic) deliver non-judgmental medical care in partnership with UW Harborview Medical Center and Neighborcare Health. The organization also runs Women's Night, People's Kitchen, Resource Bridging advocacy, and the Bad Date List safety resource for individuals experiencing commercial sexual exploitation.

Product overview

Aurora Commons operates as a day shelter and neighborhood living room offering a unified portfolio of services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. The core offering is the Drop-In Program (Mon-Thurs 10A-1P) providing basic services including clothing, hygiene supplies, meals, laundry, and computer access. Supporting services include the People's Kitchen for food preparation, Women's Night and Men's Night drop-in programs, and Resource Bridging to connect neighbors with social services. Health services include the Walk-In Health Clinic, Aurora Clinic (comprehensive primary care), and SHE Clinic (women's health), plus the SUBS Clinic for medication-assisted opioid treatment. The Bad Date List provides safety resources for those experiencing commercial sexual exploitation. The organization is part of the CEASE Network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drop-In Program A neighborhood living room offering drop-in hours (Mon-Thurs 10am-1pm) where unhoused neighbors can rest, share meals, and access basic services including clothing, hygiene supplies, laundry, computer access, and community connection. Free of charge.
• People's Kitchen A food preparation and cooking program that empowers community members by providing supplies, a sterile cooking environment, and access to a fully stocked kitchen for daily food preparation and sharing.
• Women's Night Drop-In Women-only drop-in hours on Wednesday evenings (6:30-8:30pm) providing educational and harm reduction materials, Bad Date List resources, connections to organizations, and a non-judgmental space for women who are commercially sexually exploited.
• Aurora Clinic Comprehensive primary care clinic providing medical services for all neighbors, operated in partnership with UW Harborview Medical Center. Held Mon-Tues and Thurs 10am-2pm.
• SHE Clinic (Safe Healthy Empowered) Women's health clinic providing kind, quality, non-judgmental healthcare for women living and working on Aurora Ave, held Wednesdays 10am-2pm in partnership with UW Harborview Medical Center and the City of Seattle Human Services Department.
• SUBS Clinic (Suboxone/Buprenorphine Clinic) Low-barrier medication-assisted treatment clinic for opioid use disorder, offering Suboxone (buprenorphine) treatment for male-identifying and gender non-conforming neighbors on Wednesdays 2-4pm, in partnership with Neighborcare Health.
• Bad Date List A safety resource and reporting system for individuals to report dangerous dates, with alerts and connections to support organizations including REST hotline. Reports are filed online and alerts are distributed via Remind.com SMS/email.
• Resource Bridging Active partnership-building with area organizations to connect neighbors experiencing homelessness and poverty to needed resources through trusted relationships, including connections to housing, benefits, healthcare, and social services.
• Friends of the Commons Volunteer program where volunteers extend hospitality through care and conversation, helping neighbors feel welcomed, safe, and supported to imagine possibilities for change.

Quantifiable outcome

• 62% year-over-year increase in visits; 47% increase in people seeking advocacy support
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and secondary.

• UW Harborview Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide on-site walk-in health clinics at Aurora Commons. Aurora Clinic serves all neighbors Mon-Tues & Thurs 10am-2pm; SHE Clinic serves women Wed 10am-2pm. Provides kind, quality, non-judgmental healthcare for people living and working on Aurora Ave.
• Bethany Community ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funding partner that helped raise over $1 million for Aurora Commons' permanent home purchase in 2021. Church volunteers provide ongoing support including breakfast burritos three days a week and clothing/supply drives.
• REST (Real Escape from the Sex Trade)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner24/7 hotline partner for victims of commercial sexual exploitation. REST hotline (206.451.7378) referenced on Aurora Commons' Bad Date List page as an emergency resource for those in crisis.
• Neighborcare HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to re-launch low barrier Suboxone (buprenorphine) clinic for male identifying and gender non-conforming neighbors on Wednesdays 2-4pm, replacing previous partnership with Sound Mental Health.
• City of Seattle Human Services DepartmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder and partner supporting walk-in health clinics at Aurora Commons. Provides departmental support for services targeting unhoused populations along Aurora Ave.
• DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHOST Program partnership connecting Aurora Commons neighbors to DESC services and housing programs.
• LEAD (Let Everyone Advance with Dignity)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for diversion and support services for individuals involved in commercial sex trade, providing pathway to services instead of criminal justice system.
• YWCAsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner for women in need of shelter and services; Angeline's Day Center referenced as resource.
• Sound Mental HealthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrevious partner for Low Barrier Buprenorphine Clinic operating at Aurora Commons from May 2019 through May 2020, offering medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.
• Lake City PartnerssecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHousing and services partner for neighbors in North Seattle.
• People's Harm Reduction AlliancesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarm reduction partner organization supporting Aurora Commons' harm reduction programming.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Mary's Place: Seattle-area nonprofit operating emergency family shelters and day centers for families experiencing homelessness. Comparable drop-in and resource-bridging service model for unhoused populations in King County.
• Plymouth Housing: Seattle nonprofit providing permanent supportive housing and services for people experiencing homelessness. Comparable mission of building relationship-based support for chronically unhoused adults.
• Chief Seattle Club: Seattle-based nonprofit offering a day center, health services, and cultural programming for Native and Indigenous people experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable day-center + clinic service model for a specific underserved population.
• YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish: Regional nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and services for women and families experiencing homelessness and domestic violence. Listed as a referral partner via Angeline's Day Center; serves overlapping populations.
• DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center): Seattle-based nonprofit providing housing, shelter, and behavioral health services to people experiencing homelessness. Explicitly named as Aurora Commons' HOST Program partner; serves a highly overlapping unhoused population in King County.
• People's Harm Reduction Alliance: Seattle-based harm reduction organization named as Aurora Commons' harm reduction partner. Comparable harm-reduction and outreach model for people who use drugs and experience homelessness.
• Real Escape from the Sex Trade (REST): Seattle-area nonprofit serving survivors of commercial sexual exploitation. Referenced on Aurora Commons' Bad Date List as the 24/7 hotline partner; serves the same exploited-women population along Aurora Ave.
• New Beginnings: Seattle nonprofit providing 24/7 domestic violence helpline and emergency housing. Listed as a resource on Aurora Commons' Bad Date List; serves an overlapping survivor population.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Community Services of Western Washington: Large regional social services nonprofit operating homeless shelters, day centers, housing programs, and refugee services across Western Washington. Broader scope but overlapping drop-in and basic-needs programming for unhoused neighbors.
• Salvation Army Seattle (Pike Street Women's Shelter): National faith-based organization providing emergency shelter, meals, and basic services for people experiencing homelessness. Listed as a referral resource on Aurora Commons' Bad Date List; serves overlapping populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/auroracommons
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aurora-commons

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 AURORA COMMONS