Volunteers of America - Fresh Start Recovery Center at Columbus House

Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana is a national nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping people rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. As an affiliate of the larger Volunteers of America network founded in 1896, it has a rich history of service, including pioneering halfway houses for released prisoners and providing affordable senior housing. Guided by its mission 'To offer hope, restore dignity, and transform lives to help people reach their full potential' and a vision of 'A world where all people live in safety, with social, emotional and physical well-being, spiritual fulfillment, justice, and hope,' VOA OHIN operates as a ministry of service across 65 program locations in 16 communities in Ohio and Indiana, serving nearly 11,000 people annually. It employs nearly 1,000 professionals who deliver evidence-based, trauma-informed programs focused on human services, emphasizing respect, trust, integrity, and innovation. Core services include comprehensive housing solutions such as permanent supportive housing for homeless families and individuals with disabilities or mental illness, transitional housing with case management and life skills training, emergency shelters providing basic needs and referrals, and affordable senior housing to promote independent living. In mental health and recovery, VOA OHIN offers family-focused residential treatment at Fresh Start Recovery Centers for pregnant women and mothers with substance use disorders, allowing them to stay with their children; men's recovery services for those in the criminal justice system; outpatient treatment with medication-assisted therapy; and recovery housing like Legacy Recovery House. For veterans—one in five homeless adults—programs encompass the Veterans Resource Centers for transitional living, employment training, and job placement; Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) to prevent homelessness; suicide prevention through peer support and case management; and specialized housing like the Cleveland Domiciliary. Criminal justice reentry initiatives provide residential programs with counseling, job-readiness training, and referrals to support ex-offenders in becoming productive community members. Youth and family services promote positive development through prevention, early intervention, and crisis support, including Operation Backpack® for school supplies and Welcome Home Kits for transitioning families. All programs are CARF-accredited, ensuring quality and accountability, and target underserved populations including veterans, women, families, seniors, those with disabilities, and the formerly incarcerated, fostering stability, autonomy, and dignity to build healthier communities.