At Catholic Social Services, we approach families holistically to help our clients overcome the interrelated challenges of poverty, to strengthen relationships, and to empower them with the tools to become self-sufficient. We address our clients’ physical needs for food, clothing, and shelter, while simultaneously helping them improve mental health and overcome barriers to long-term stability and well-being.

Stay the Course® 

  • The Stay the Course® program is a FREE resource at Columbus State Community College that helps students deal with life’s unexpected challenges that get in the way of school. By working with their own personal Navigator, eligible students will receive extra support and access to community resources as well as non-academic financial assistance for up to $500 per semester to cover unexpected emergencies so they can focus on what matters most – finishing their degree. 
For more information, contact  Keena Watson at 614-287-5792.

 

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Center

Through Our Lady of Guadalupe Center, CSS works to reduce poverty by addressing its root causes within the immigrant Hispanic community concentrated on the west side of Columbus. This population is growing and experiences disproportionate poverty. In 2017, CSS expanded the Guadalupe Center facility, which allows us to serve more people. In addition to meeting their emergency needs, we now offer holistic case management and wrap-around services which will transform our clients’ capacity to become self-sufficient.

Learn More

St. Francis Center

The St. Francis Center serves Portsmouth, Ohio as a one-stop community center providing families hot meals, clothing and household items, food, and emergency assistance. The Center serves as hope and healing for the community.

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Case Management

CSS’ case manager is available to help clients tackle the multitude of barriers to economic self-sufficiency and overall family well-being. Our case manager can help clients acquire affordable housing, learn how to manage their finances, find childcare, find jobs, access benefits and community resources, and more. Our case manager acts as an advocate and support for clients who lack strong support systems.

If you have questions or would like to learn more, call us at (614) 221-5891.

For Spanish please call, (614) 340-7061.

Post Adoption Services/Foster Care Services

If you are looking for information about adoption or foster care Catholic Social Service may be able to help.

Catholic Social Services maintains adoption files for adoptions facilitated within the Diocese of Columbus. We hold adoption files from:

  • Catholic Social Services, formerly known as the Catholic Welfare Bureau 
  • St. Vincent Orphanage
  • St. Ann’s Maternity Home

Those looking for information regarding a past adoption may submit a request using these forms in the post-adoption form packet (PDF). To aquire baptismal use this request form. They can be mailed to: Catholic Social Service, Attn: Post-Adoption Service, 197 E Gay Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

Success Story

Leaving the father of her children was one of the hardest things Jamilla had ever had to do, but the abuse was getting worse.  She had begun to fear for her life and the lives of her children.  After he beat her while she was pregnant, putting her unborn daughter at risk, Jamilla fled to a domestic violence shelter.  At the shelter, she was connected to Catholic Social Services’ Pathways to Hope program.

With the support of the program, Jamilla began to live without fear and build a life free of violence, where she could teach her young sons and daughters how to treat one another with love and respect.  Pathways to Hope helped Jamilla and her children move into a new home, and she was able to find a great job that allowed her to support her family and give back to the community.  Once she was in a stable, safe place, CSS coached her on how to build healthy, loving relationships. As Jamilla looks forward, she says, “Pathways to Hope really helped me get back on my feet, and to make me feel like… I really did make the right choice…My goal for myself is to not still consider myself a victim.  I want to be considered a survivor.”

2020 Impact

icon-impact-clients

13,584
Unique people served in 2022.

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99%
Clients say “CSS made a positive difference.”

icon-impact-food

14,394
Meals provided to
families in 2022.

“One goal for each day: to convey the tenderness of Christ to those who are most in need.” -Pope Francis

Locations

COLUMBUS

197 E. Gay Street
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 221-5891

WEST COLUMBUS

Our Lady of Guadalupe Center
409 Industry Drive
Columbus, OH 43204
(614) 340-7061

NEWARK

1031 Brice Street
Newark, OH 43055
(740) 345-2565

PORTSMOUTH

St. Francis Catholic Outreach Center
2311 Stockham Lane
Portsmouth, OH 45662
(740) 961-4020

ZANESVILLE

422 Main Street, Ste 400
P.O. Box 3446
Zanesville, OH 43702-3446
(740) 452-5057

Contact Us