We are so grateful for your support. Thanks to YOUR support, we can continue “Staying Behind With Those Left Behind”. In 2025, we assisted the largest number of homeless and marginally housed men, women, and children in one calendar year since becoming a Day Services Shelter over two decades ago.
We helped OVER 4,300 men, women, and children last year. The need is growing.
Times are getting tougher for our most vulnerable neighbors and friends. Cuts to assistance, along with rising bills, healthcare costs, and rent, are making it harder on those we serve. Each weekday, we see more and more individuals and families who need The Open Shelter and YOUR assistance to get through the day, the week, the month, and the year. They need us and YOU to survive.
Thanks to your support in 2025, The Open Shelter was able to assist 4,348 homeless and marginally housed men, women, and children; 1,336 of whom were “living on the streets”. 57,894 sack lunches and 114,375 ‘to-go’ meals were provided.
We also assisted 35 men and women through our “Payeeship” program, which helps homeless and recently homeless persons who need third-party money management. We assisted those ‘living on the land’ 1,637 times with items such as tents, tarps, backpacks, sleeping bags, ‘bed rolls’, and candles. 6,123 instances of clothing assistance, 2,426 hygiene kits, 785 diapers, and 336 bus passes were provided to those we serve.
We assisted with thousands of State IDs & Birth Certificates in 2025.
We also provided a mailing address in addition to access to phones, computers, and copiers.
Through our location on Parsons Avenue, we are also able to provide connections for our guests to wonderful partners such as Mt. Carmel Outreach, South Side Thrive, Mid-Ohio Food Collective, and Southeast Healthcare.
But most importantly, your support provides a safe, caring space for the most vulnerable in our community.
YOU make this all possible.
YOU allow us to be a “covered piece of the sidewalk” for those we serve. Thank You.