For Immediate Release                     Contact:  Barbara Poppe, (614) 221-9195

 

Shelters will Expand to meet Winter Demand

   

COLUMBUS, OHIO, January 22, 2003— As dangerous weather conditions surround us, it is our hope that anyone remaining outside or on the streets will seek shelter.

 

“Any person in need of shelter should not stay on the streets during this bitterly cold winter because they think the shelters are full.  The shelters will expand to meet the demand”, stated Barbara Poppe, Executive Director of the Community Shelter Board.

 

The enclosed fact sheet gives information and telephone numbers for street outreach services, emergency shelter for men, women and families with children, and homelessness prevention services.   

 

The Community Shelter Board, established in 1986, is a non-profit intermediary organization that coordinates community based efforts, fosters collaboration, and funds services to assist families and individuals in Central Ohio to resolve their housing crisis.  The Community Shelter Board allocates $7.5 million annually to support programs at 17 agencies.  Last year, these programs served more than 11,000 individuals.  The Community Shelter Board is funded by the City of Columbus, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the United Way of Central Ohio, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of Ohio, and other public and private donors.

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Community Shelter Board

Access to Emergency Shelter

Winter 2002 - 2003

 “Any person in need of shelter should not stay on the streets during this bitterly cold winter because they think the shelters are full.  The shelters will expand to meet the demand.”

Barbara Poppe, CSB’s Executive Director

Street Outreach

The following community organizations have programs that provide resources and services to persons on the streets.  These organizations work to assist these individuals to move into housing or shelter.

 

Netcare Reach Out: ........................................................................................................ 276-2273

199 South Central Avenue.  Transportation of inebriated homeless persons to the Maryhaven Community Engagement Center or to home.

 

Southeast - Project Liaison: .......................................................................................... 225-0990

Mobile mental health assessment services for homeless persons. Provides linkages to mental health services, shelter, and housing.

 

Take it to the Streets: ..................................................................................................... 348-5961

Mobile street outreach and material assistance for homeless persons.  Provides linkages to shelter and housing.

 

Men’s Emergency Housing

The men’s sheltering system has agreed to work together to accommodate men needing shelter during the winter months.  If necessary, the programs have access to bus passes and taxi vouchers to transport men to another shelter.

 

Faith Mission on Long Street:................................................... 224-1429 or 224-6617, ext. 151

151 North 6th Street at Long Street downtown.  24-hour Shelter, 3 meals/day, & case management for up to 130 men.  Walk-in admission process, must not be inebriated. Transportation provided to other shelters and alternative housing.

 

Faith Mission on 8th Avenue:.......................................................................................... 299-3192
599 East 8th Avenue in Milo Grogan.  24-hour Shelter, 3 meals/day, & case management for up to 95 men.  Walk-in admission process.  Transportation provided to other shelters and alternative housing.

 

Friends of the Homeless:.................................................................................... 253-2770, ext. 1

924 East Main Street at Carpenter on near east side.  24-hour Shelter, evening meal, & case management for up to 145 men. Walk-in admission process, must not be inebriated. Transportation provided to other shelters and alternative housing.

 

The Engagement Center at Maryhaven:....................................................................... 449-1530

1775 Alum Creek Drive. Admissions received via Netcare Reach Out and police. Any referral from a hospital must have a nurse-to-nurse report prior to acceptance. Must be inebriated and homeless. 24-hour emergency services, case management & linkage to treatment for up to 42 men.

 

Volunteers of America:.................................................................................................... 224-0128

373 West Broad Street at Starling in Franklinton.  Night Shelter (7 p.m. – 7 a.m.), breakfast, case management for up to 95 men.  Walk-in admission process by lottery that starts at 6:30 p.m. for up to 60 men, must not be inebriated. Transportation provided to other shelters and alternative housing.

 

YMCA Flexible Services:................................................................................................ 573-3616

40 West Long Street downtown.  2 – 10 p.m. Case management staff on duty to link homeless men to traditional shelter and/or motel overflow.  Also links to other services and housing.


 

Women’s Emergency Housing

The emergency shelters for women have agreed to work together to accommodate women needing shelter.  If necessary, the programs have access to bus passes and taxi vouchers to transport women to another shelter.  The emergency shelters that provide services to women are:

 

Friends of the Homeless Rebecca’s Place:...................................................... 253-2770, ext. 5
Confidential location on near east side.  24-hour Shelter, evening meal & case management for up to 54 women. Telephone admission process, must not be inebriated. Transportation provided to other shelters and alternative housing.

 

Faith Mission Nancy’s Place:........................................................................... 224-6617 ext. 162
325 East Long Street at 6th Street  downtown.  24-hour Shelter, 3 meals/day, & case management for up to 47 women.  Walk-in admission process, must not be inebriated. Transportation provided to other shelters and alternative housing.

 

The Engagement Center at Maryhaven:....................................................................... 449-1530

1775 Alum Creek Drive.  Admissions received via Netcare Reach Out and police. Any referral from a hospital must have a nurse-to-nurse report prior to acceptance. Must be inebriated and homeless. Serves both inebriated and homeless women experiencing a crisis.  24-hour emergency services, case management & linkage to treatment for up to 12 women.

 

Family Shelters

The YWCA Interfaith Hospitality Network provides 24-hour emergency shelter to homeless families.  YWCA IHN staff discuss housing options with families who are seeking shelter - those families with no other resources are admitted into IHN.  Families with no other housing options will not be denied shelter.  The IHN Hospitality Center is operated from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.  Families receive 24-hour access to night services at rotating congregational sites.

 

YWCA Interfaith Hospitality Network:         1-888-491-8887 or 228-9211 ext. 111

 

Homelessness Prevention

Lutheran Social Services and its satellite partners provide homeless prevention services to individuals and families in need of resources to prevent homelessness.


                         LSS Prevention Program: .............................................. 224-7290

                        Gladden Community House:........................................... 227-1600
                    CMACAO Martin Luther King Action Center:............... 258-0408

CMACAO County Action Center:.................................... 875-7426

CMACAO Northeast Action Center:............................... 299-1158

                        Central Community House:............................................. 252-3157

                        Neighborhood House:..................................................... 252-4941

 

FIRSTLINK’s database of community resources is up-to-date and is available for information and referral at 221-2255.

Further Information About Homelessness

Further information about programs serving the homeless, local plans for services, and statistics about programs serving Columbus and Franklin County are available at the Community Shelter Board’s web site at www.csb.org, or by calling CSB.  

Community Shelter Board 221-9195