Where to access housing, food and health care resources throughout Columbus

Do you or does anyone you know need extra help?

Dozens of social services and nonprofits throughout Columbus and Central Ohio are looking to help people with housing, health care or even just a hot meal.

Below is a list of resources you can access in Columbus. Some programs may require identification or other personal documentation. Please check with the individual provider for what they require you to provide.

Housing

Impact Community Action is a nonprofit organization that offers rental assistance to households in Columbus and Franklin County. To be eligible, households must have:

• One or more residents qualified for unemployment benefits, have experienced a decrease in household income, incurred significant costs or experienced other financial hardship directly or indirectly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• An income at or below 80% of the area median income ($63,500 for a two-person household, $71,450 for a three-person household).

• A past-due rent notice or an eviction notice from a landlord.

The program provides assistance for past due rental and mortgage payments or the first month's rent, but could include up to three months of rent. In some cases, it may be able to provide assistance for a longer period of time.

In addition to rental assistance, Impact also offers other supportive services, such as life coaching, financial counseling and job training.

Appointments are required and can only be made on set days. Applicants must provide proof of income among other documents. For more information, visit impactca.org or call 614-964-2906.

More: 12 rent, mortgage and utility assistance programs available to Columbus-area residents

Other housing services:

• If you do not have access to housing or are experiencing homelessness, the online homeless shelter directory lists Columbus homeless shelters and additional information about the services they provide.

• Franklin County Veterans Service Commission provides active duty and veterans, and active duty and veteran families, with emergency financial assistance. Can include rent, mortgage, utilities, food and more. Call 614-525-2500 for more information.

• Faith Mission's Supportive Services for Veteran Families helps veteran families maintain stable housing. Call 614-224-6617 for more information.

• Home for Families' Homeless Prevention for Expectant Mothers provides housing and supportive services to pregnant women. Call the Homeless Hotline at 614-274-7000 for more information.

• Huckleberry House provides youth ages 17-24 with housing assistance and other programming. The program currently has a waiting list. Call 614-294-8097 for more information.

• Columbus State's Success Bridge Housing Stabilization provides support to Columbus State students experiencing housing instability. Call the Student Advocacy Center at 614-287-5258 for more information.

Health care and mental health care

Columbus Free Clinic: A student-run organization providing quality, culturally competent health care to the community. Located at 2231 N. High St. in Columbus, services are available Thursday evenings from 5:45-10 p.m. by appointment only. Contact 614-404-8417 for more information.

Physicians CareConnectionFree Clinic: Treatment is by appointment only. Call 614-884-2441 to schedule an appointment. Physicians CareConnection is an affiliate of the Columbus Medical Association. The clinic is a volunteer-based, charitable organization that helps coordinate care for vulnerable adults in Central Ohio.

Netcare Crisis Support Line: Crisis Support for residents of Franklin County is available 24/7 for anyone who needs assistance or is in a mental health or substance abuse crisis at 614-276-2273.

National Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline: Call (800)-273-8255.

Drugs and Alcohol Treatment Referral: Call (800)-662-4357.

Food resources

You can use freshtrak.com to locate the nearest food pantries and hot meal services closest to you. Some services may have income eligibility requirements.

Some notable food resources in the area include:

All Peoples Fresh Market: Located at 945 Parsons Ave. Open 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. No appointment is necessary.

Broad Street Presbyterian Church Food Pantry:Offering food pantry services at 760 E. Broad St., Monday through Friday from 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Gladden Community House Food Pantry: Serving households living within the organization's service area (zip codes 43222, 43223 and 43215). You may shop through the pantry once a month and return for just fresh produce any day during open times. Adults need: photo ID for head of household and a piece of mail to verify residency. Located at 318 S. Glenwood Ave. in Columbus.

Linden Market: Providing free fresh produce to all households that are below 200% of the poverty line. To qualify and become a member of Linden Market, visit 1464 Cleveland Ave. during the market's hours with a photo ID. Contact the market with questions at 614-298-4192.

Stowe Mission: The Stowe Mission Food Pantry offers meats, nonperishable goods and dairy products. Neighbors who meet the low-income regulations are welcome to shop at the Stowe Mission Food Pantry monthly. To schedule an appointment, call 211. Stowe Mission also offers a free lunch Monday through Friday every week from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Enter on the south side of the building at the Community Kitchen door.

Pregnancy care and pregnancy crisis

Birthright Columbus: Offers emergency services and assistance for women with unplanned pregnancies, as well as referrals for prenatal care. Birthright also provides pregnancy and delivery education, maternity clothing, layettes, diapers, wipes and vouchers for other items. No referral required for services. Located at 3445 Great Western Blvd., Columbus.

Pregnancy Decision Health Centers (PDHC): Provides pregnancy testing, verification of pregnancy, pregnancy support and connection to community resources. Other services PDHC provides include: parenting classes, maternity clothes, baby items, prenatal vitamins and pregnancy loss support.

All services are free and confidential. Call or text the 24-hour hotline for details at (614) 444-4411.

Locations:

• Campus location: 22 E. 17th Ave., Columbus.

• North location: 5900 Cleveland Ave., Columbus.

• Lancaster location: 1590 E. Main St., Lancaster.

• West location: 4111 W. Broad Plaza, Columbus.

Women’s Care Center: Provides parenting and childbirth classes to earn coupons for baby clothing, furniture, cribs, wipes and blankets. Women are required to register with them as clients before they can join their parenting classes. Class schedules are available online. Appointments are preferred. Walk-ins welcomed. They also provide free pregnancy testing.

Locations:

• 935 E. Broad St., Columbus. Contact at (614) 251-0200.

• 3273 E. Main St., Columbus. Contact at (614) 235-3000.

Jobs and employment

OhioMeansJobs: Find a job, learn career skills, meet the requirements of your government benefits and more on OhioMeansJobs.com.

The OhioMeansJobs Center in Columbus at 1111 E. Broad St. offers resource rooms with access to computers, office equipment, job-related workshops, supportive services, individual training accounts and other activities. Job seekers have access to job search assistance and training while also addressing the barriers that may be preventing them from reaching their employment goals.

Ohio Jobs and Family Services: You can apply for unemployment benefits from the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. Documentation and other requirements may be needed.

Did I miss your organization? Email me at Cbehrens@dispatch.com.

@Colebehr_report

Cbehrens@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Housing, food and health care resources in Columbus