Aurora, IL Warming Shelter

07/17/2026

Please keep extra water in your car to hand out to our neighbors during the heatwave.

Another great way to help our unhoused neighbors is to give out $5-10 food gift cards.

It gives folks a great break from the heat, and allows them the dignity to sit in air conditioning in peace and give their lungs a break from all the smoke 💛

If you’d like to arrange dropping them off, we can help arrange a time… or they’re a great option to keep in your car anytime you’re driving and see an unhoused person outside on days like today. Or simply swing by River St and you will likely find someone in need of the kindness. 😊

We keep each other safe 💛🫂

Photocred: photography!

07/14/2026

07/08/2026

‼ REMINDER: Food bought with SNAP, State Food, or EBT benefits may be replaced if destroyed in a weather event caused by a power outage of 4 hours or more if the request is made within 10 calendar days upon discovery of the destroyed food.

🍽 Check out this link from the Illinois Department of Human Services for more information: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=18623

07/01/2026

Please call! We need you to help ensure services don’t deplete further for our vulnerable neighbors!

‼️PROPOSED HUD CHANGES PUT HOMELESS SERVICES AT RISK‼️

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is once again changing how it distributes funding for homeless services in ways that many providers say violate federal law. Even though Congress directed HUD to continue funding existing homelessness programs to prevent disruptions, many organizations still haven't received their funding.

The new funding proposal for 2026 could force major cuts to successful local programs, override community priorities, and leave an estimated 97,000 people at risk of losing the housing and services they rely on, while giving HUD broad discretion to deny funding with little transparency.

Contact Dick Durbin, A member of the Senate THUD Appropriations Subcommittee, making him another key contact and Mike Quigley, House THUD Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member:
☎️Dick Durbin: (202) 224-2151 + https://www.durbin.senate.gov/contact/email
☎️Mike Quigley: (773) 267-5926 + https://quigleyforms.house.gov/forms/writeyourrep/
❓Need help finding the right words to say? Read more at https://tinyurl.com/ContactDurbinQuigley

06/30/2026

Heat doesn't stop because it's summer, and neither do the needs of our unhoused neighbors.

While the Aurora Warming Center is a winter shelter, many of our volunteers and staff from the shelter season realize that community doesn't end with the season.

This week we're working alongside local partners to expand outreach during the heat advisory by distributing water, meals, hygiene supplies, cooling items, transportation assistance, and connecting people with safe places to cool down.

The reality is that our community has stepped up in incredible ways, but there are still gaps. We asked the people we serve what they need most to get through this heat, and their answers are reflected in the work and donation requests shared here.

If you're able, please consider helping. A case of water, a bus pass, a small gift card, or a financial donation (info found below) can make an immediate difference for someone trying to stay safe in dangerous temperatures.

Take a few minutes to look through the information in this post. Share it with someone who may need it, and if you're in a position to help, we'd be grateful to have your support.

Together, we can make sure more of our neighbors have what they need to get through this heat safely. If you know of other resources/groups that our unhoused neighbors should know will be a resource this week, let us know & drop in the comments!

Stay cool friends, look out for each other and for us at these different times if we can assist you!

To visit a Cooling Center, visit:
https://www.aurora.il.us/City-Services/Cooling-Centers
or follow: City of Aurora, IL, Government

Donate here:
GiveButter: https://givebutter.com/aurorawarmingshelter
Zelle: [email protected] (Becoming Church)
Amazon Summer Wishlist: http://bit.ly/4wCom5R

06/29/2026

Keep extra waters in your cars to hand out to folks this week! We will be at the campsites every day this week to ensure people have water, food, cooling towels, fans, and more.

We need to care for one another, care doesn’t stop in the winter. Our neighbors are facing waitlists at local shelters and are on the streets needing our help in this terribly hot weather. If you’re around this week to help with care for our neighbors, please let us know!

06/18/2026

The Living Room has been a vital resource to our unhoused neighbors and to programs like winter warming centers. This resource needs to exist in our community!!

❗IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM AID PRESIDENT & CEO LORE BAKER❗
"I am brokenhearted to announce that due to a technical glitch, the AID Living Room in Aurora has not received funding to continue it’s good work. We will be closing the Living Room on June 30, 2026. There has been amazing support provided to persons experiencing a mental health crisis at any time of the day or night in the Aurora area over the past two and a half years by the dedicated AID Living Room Staff!

This will be a huge loss to the crisis system in the second largest city in the state of Illinois and to the citizens of our community.

We aren’t done fighting for this vital community resource! Please contact the Governor’s Office (Springfield and Chicago), our local state legislators: Representatives Barbara Hernandez, Maura Hirschauer and Matt Hanson as well as Senators Karina Villa and Linda Holmes (phone numbers are below) and let them know that the 2nd largest city in Illinois can’t lose the AID Living Room from the crisis service system!"

🔗❗To take action and learn more, please visit https://conta.cc/4xDDocz

06/15/2026

We had such a great time walking in the Aurora PRIDE parade today! Becoming - Oswego 🌈💗

We believe every person deserves to be seen, valued, and loved.

Walking together today was a celebration of the truth that everyone deserves to experience joy, connection, safety, and the freedom to be welcomed exactly as they are.

More pics to come! Happy PRIDE y’all! 🏳️‍🌈