Welcome to Van Buren Center!
Mission Statement
To support and strengthen the community by compassionately addressing the needs of individuals and families experiencing a homeless crisis and providing a safe and healthy environment for women, families, and men to resolve their housing crisis.
Vision
Our vision is to protect basic human rights and meet needs by providing safe shelter. We instill hope and provide support to our guests for their long-term success through empowerment, community engagement, and teamwork.
Shelter
The Van Buren Emergency Shelter plays a critical role in ending homelessness in Franklin County. The YMCA-operated facility embraces a Housing First approach, offers immediate and low barrier access to anyone facing a housing crisis, and measures shelter performance in order to improve results. The Van Buren Center serves up to 800 individuals every night, including families, women, and men, making it one of the largest in the nation.
Services
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Case Management
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Employment Resources
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Workshops
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On-site Medical Providers
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Educational Linkage
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Meal Service
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Housing Search Assistance
Volunteer & Donations
Looking for more information about volunteering or donations?
Visit our YMCA Shelter Services Volunteer Hub!
Learn More
Caring Kitchen
A workplace development program for women experiencing homelessness that will help them gain valuable skills around preparation and food packaging.
Give Her Hope
The YMCA of Central Ohio, in partnership with dedicated community volunteers, is committed to reuniting women experiencing homelessness with their families for the holiday season. Your help can be the difference between sleeping in a shelter or going home to a loving family environment. With your support, we can drastically change the holidays for 200 families. With your support, we will help 200 women rebuild their lives.
How You Can Help
Donations Needed:
- Deodorant (men/women)
- Shaving Cream
- Baby Wipes
- Microwavable Ramen Noodles
- Granola Bars
- Water Bottles