Star House

About

We are the only 24/7 drop-in center for homeless youth (14-24) in Columbus OH. We provide basic needs, service linkage, therapy, case management and more.

Story

Need Help Now?

If you are between the ages of 14 and 24 and do not have permanent housing, please call 614.826.5868 or drop-in at 1220 Corrugated Way, Columbus, Ohio 43201.

About Us

The Columbus metropolitan area is two-million strong and fast-growing. Currently, there are an estimated 2,000 youth, ages 14-24, living on central Ohio streets, homeless and alone. As Columbus grows, we recognize the urgent need to prevent chronic adult homelessness for these youth and for our community.

Youth live homeless and alone, due to inherent distrust in adults and social services wrought by a personal history of abuse and neglect. Founded in 2006, Star House is a nationally-recognized, research-based model for how to strategically find and re-engage traumatized, street-living youth known for hiding in social margins.

Star House conducts calculated outreach to the streets, soup kitchens, libraries, parks and campsites. We welcome youth into a non-threatening, trusting environment that offers food, clothing, a place to be, mental health therapy, health care, laundry facilities, mailbox, computer lab; connection to wide-ranging social services, including housing, transportation and more; as well as workforce, educational and enrichment opportunities.

We served 984 individual youth in 2016. Among a survey sample of 181 of our youth, 1 in 2 were connected with jobs; 2 in 5 were connected with crucial identification cards; 1 in 4 entered educational programs; and 2 in 5 received medical care. Given that homeless youth are known for hiding in social margins, these numbers prove that these youth want help, and the unique help we offer works.

*We are an Ohio Benefit Bank site, which allows us to apply for entitlements that youth may be eligible for, such as food stamps. This speeds up the process for receiving benefits and removes many potential barriers.

* All services are free and confidential

Mission

Star House provides youth experiencing homelessness with a safe respite from the streets and connects them with a chance to thrive.