TOLEDO, Ohio — As one of the few family emergency shelters in Lucas County, Leading Families Home said the need for assistance is great.
Danielle Edwards, the organization's marketing communications manager, said the nonprofit is currently in between grants, and since it's a nonprofit, the organization relies heavily on the community and outside funds to run properly.
Currently, there are an estimated 57,563 family households who identified as homeless just last January nationwide.
To help combat those numbers locally, Edwards said Leading Families Home's emergency shelters have been packed for the last six months.
"We've been full. We can serve up to 75 individuals at [Ashland Emergency Shelter] and 25 [at Beach House Emergency Shelter]," Edwards said. "With the amount of homeless families on the list, we just see an increased need for just essentials."
She said the cupboards aren't bare for either shelter, but they've had to make due. The organization's goal is to give these families a sense of belonging. Additionally, each client needs bedding, toiletries and if needed, baby items.
"We help hundreds of families," Edwards said. "It's the equivalent to like 10 city blocks or something of that we help shelter and house."
For Christian Sullivan, Leading Families Home has been everything, he said.
"Promising," Sullivan said. "It's a breath of fresh air for people like myself starting over."
Edwards and Sullivan said many people are just one to two paychecks away from likely needing the shelter themselves. That's why the nonprofit is always ready to help whoever may need it.
Edwards said ever since COVID, the need for help has consistently been increasing. In addition to emergency housing, the nonprofit also has a program to help clients get into independent permanent housing.
"I think 5% ever see homelessness again," Edwards said. "So 95% of our families are never homeless again. I think it's due to the program."
Having moved from Texas to Toledo and now finding himself at Beach House, Sullivan said he's happy with those odds.
"I never would have thought. You know what I'm saying? Go to a food bank. Now I encourage it," Sullivan said. "I tell my family, 'Hey you need to go to a food bank,' or, 'You need to go get some clothes.' You can never just be too proud," Sullivan said.
Edwards is hoping the support Leading Families Home gives to clients will now come from the community to the nonprofit.
To learn more about Leading Families Home and how you can give, click here.