Check out the resources below for assistance finding emergency shelter, mental health support, food access, legal help, and more.
Individuals seeking immediate shelter
Community Shelter Board (CSB) For assistance finding shelter in Franklin County call (614)274-7000
LSS CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence To access shelter for victims of domestic violence, call (614)224-4663
Columbus Coalition for the Homeless Education, advocacy, and empowerment resources including Homeless Hotline Resource Street Card
Senior Programs for Emergency Housing
Families seeking immediate shelter
Home for Families (614)461-9247
LSS CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence To access shelter for victims of domestic violence, call (614)224-4663
Housing resources
Rentful614 Franklin County’s rent assistance hub for tenants and landlords
Rentful614 Espanol ¿Necesita ayuda con el alquiler?
Rentful614 Somali Ma u bahantahay caawinta kirada?
Rentful614 Utility Assistance Providers
Columbia Gas Emergency Contact If you smell gas, think you have a gas leak, have carbon monoxide symptoms or some other emergency situation, go outside and call 911, then call Columbia Gas at 1-800-344-4077
Legal help providers
Rentful614 Legal Help Providers
Ohio Legal Help Plain language legal help information, interactive self-help tools and connections to local legal and community resources
Food
Mid-Ohio Food Collective (formerly Mid-Ohio Food Bank) (614)277-FOOD (3663)
FreshTrak Find food banks serving your zip-code
Mental health resources
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (614)685-8511
Nationwide Children’s Behavioral Health Services (614)355-8080
General assistance
Mount Carmel Health Social Care Mount Carmel Social Care addresses the physical, spiritual and behavioral health needs of people who lack transportation, housing, food security, safety and education or who face language or socio-economic barriers in the Columbus, Ohio, area
Suicide prevention resources
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Call 988 for 24/7 access to the suicide and crisis lifeline, or visit the website for additional resources and live text chat option
Suicide Prevention Hotline – North Central Mental Health Services
LOSS Community Services – Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors
Older Adult Hotline (614)294-3309
Teen Suicide Hotline (614)294-3300
The Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition (614)299-6600 ext. 2073
Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255
Training for Teachers Ohio Campaign for Hope: Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative 614-429-1528
LGBTQ Youth Suicide and Crisis Prevention Hotline: The Trevor Project 1-866-488-7386
Additional Suicide Prevention Resources for youth, LGBTQ+, veterans, post partum, Black community, neurodivergent individuals, and seniors
Drug and alcohol addiction resources
ADAMH Youth Addiction Services
The Stages of Addiction (via The Recovery Village)
Homeless and Addicted: What You Should Know (via The Recovery Village)
Health, dental and vision resources
Affordable Health Insurance Guide
Free/Affordable Clinics and Community Health Centers in Franklin County
Prevent Blindness Ohio Vision Care Outreach Program
The Link Between Mental Health and Your Vision
Free Dental Clinics in Franklin County
Reentry resources
Franklin County Reentry Advisory Board (614)525-5577
Alvis Residential Reentry Services
Accompanying Returning Citizens with Hope (ARCH) (614)643-2140
Spanish language resources/recursos Españoles
Ohio Hispanic Coalition (614) 459-6566 The Ohio Hispanic Coalition provides health services, interpretation & translation services, youth and parent education, safety, and victim services
Coalición Hispana de Ohio (614) 459-6566 Proveé una gama de programas y recursos para ayudar a la comunidad Latina/Hispana en Ohio. Incluye programas educativos, acceso lingüístico, servicios legales, y más
Our Lady of Guadelupe Center (740) 345-2565 Offers services like: English classes, food pantry, legal representation, social work and case management, personal development workshops, and community events
Centro Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (740) 345-2565 Ofrece servicios como: clases de ingles, despensa de alimentos, representación legal, trabajador social y administrador de casos, talleres de crecemiento personal, y eventos para la comunidad
Somali language resources/kheyraadka Somaliyeed
Buckeye Ranch Somali Outreach Program Somali-speaking case managers, and support for youth and families struggling with loss, trauma, resettlement, and issues common to the process of immigration
Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services Services for refugees, immigrants, and low-income individuals, including education, training, help with employment, community health and wellness, family care, and more
OurHelpers (614) 733-9555 Somali-led non-profit with services such as case management, English as a second language (ESL) courses, mental health first aid classes, rent/utility assistance, food pantry, and youth programming
Somali Community Association of Ohio (SCAO) (614) 262-4068 Non-profit founded by Somali immigrants: provides free services and special support for recent immigrants, ESL, employment assistance, youth programs, legal assistance, financial assistance, housing referrals, and case management
Somali Community Link (614) 368-7300 Provides services pertaining to resettlement, housing/legal advocacy, case management, employment assistance, and youth programs
Arabic language resources
Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS) Non-profit that serves the refugee and immigrant populations in Central Ohio, with services that include English classes, employment training and placement, health and wellness groups, youth mentorship, family support, advocacy for victims of crime, and legal services
Muslim Family Services of Ohio Non-profit social services agency that provides resettlement support, English literacy and job skills training, paperwork assistance, Janazah (Muslim funeral) services, basic needs assistance, and referrals/advocacy
Noor Community Clinic Free medical clinic for the uninsured and underinsured in Columbus
Miscellaneous resources
614 Youth Prevention Agency is an educational outreach organization committed to helping those in need while advocating for fair and equal conditions for everybody in Franklin Country Ohio