Sandusky, Ohio, offers several reliable homeless shelters, transitional housing programs, and community resources, including the Liberty Center of Sandusky County, the Sandusky Metropolitan Housing Authority, and the WSOS Community Action Commission. These organizations provide emergency shelter, housing with supportive services, and connections to assistance for food, utility payments, and financial needs.
Emergency & Temporary Shelters
Volunteers of America Crossroads Shelter
The Volunteers of America Crossroads Shelter in Sandusky, Ohio, offers vital emergency shelter, transitional housing, and support programs to help individuals and families transition into permanent housing.
Programs and Capacity
Emergency Beds: Provides 12 designated beds for single men and 6 beds for single women facing a housing crisis.
Family Units: Offers 6 designated units to ensure that families experiencing homelessness can safely remain together.
Chemical Dependency Housing: Includes the “Serenity House” program, which offers group housing and scattered-site housing for 16 men and women recovering from drug or alcohol dependency.
Veterans Support: Operates specialized temporary housing and reintegration resources designed specifically for veterans.
Services Offered
Basic Needs: Provides warm beds, hot meals, clothing, and access to a local food pantry.
Medical Resources: Hosts an on-site nursing clinic to help residents manage their physical health. Rehabilitation Services: Provides life skills training, mental health support, and budgeting classes.
Case Management: Assigns professional case managers to outline employment goals and plan for placement in permanent housing.
Rapid Rehousing: Connects eligible clients directly with immediate housing assistance options within the community.
If you need to check current bed availability or speak with a case manager, please contact the facility directly during its regular business hours, Monday through Friday.
Address: 1843 Superior St, Sandusky, OH 44870
Contact: Call (419) 626-6505.
Safe Harbor Domestic Violence Shelter
The Safe Harbor Domestic Violence Shelter in Sandusky, Ohio, offers confidential emergency shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, and a 24/7 crisis hotline for survivors of domestic violence. The shelter is located in Sandusky and serves Erie, Ottawa, and Huron counties.
Services Offered
Emergency Shelter: Safe and confidential housing for victims and their children.
Crisis Counseling: Short-term intervention, case management, and education.
Outreach Counseling: Support for non-resident victims at locations outside the shelter.
Support Groups: For survivors seeking to make changes in their lives.
Legal Advocacy: Assistance with criminal and civil court proceedings.
First Response: Collaboration with law enforcement to contact victims immediately following incidents.
Community Education: Training for medical personnel, agencies, and organizations.
Volunteer Opportunities: For community members wishing to support survivors.
Address: Sandusky, OH (Confidential address for safety reasons)
Contact: Call (419) 626-2200 or 1-800-953-2207.
Regional Options (Outside Sandusky)
For residents of the Sandusky area and Erie County who require alternative options, several regional homeless shelters located outside Sandusky offer temporary housing, safety planning, and intensive case management.
1. Miriam House (Norwalk, OH)
Administered by Catholic Charities, Miriam House is a structured transitional shelter serving the broader region of the Diocese of Toledo.
Target Population: Exclusively for homeless women, pregnant women, and mothers seeking reunification with their children.
Services: Provides a safe living environment, along with an intensive life skills curriculum, budgeting guidance, and personalized case management. The primary goal is to help residents develop self-sufficiency in order to make a smooth transition into permanent housing.
Location and Admission: 249 W Main St, Norwalk, OH 44857. You must complete an eligibility assessment by calling (419) 663-6341.
2. Liberty Center of Sandusky County (Fremont, OH)
The Liberty Center operates as a comprehensive emergency and temporary shelter facility.
Target Population: Open to single individuals and families experiencing a sudden housing crisis.
Services: Provides temporary shelter for up to 60 days, covering immediate basic needs such as nutritious meals, personal hygiene items, and laundry access. On-site case managers offer local referrals for employment and housing, life skills classes, and specialized advocacy for domestic violence cases.
Location and Admission: 1421 E State St, Fremont, OH 43420. To check daily bed availability or to schedule an admission appointment, call (419) 332-8777.
3. Haven Center (Lorain, OH)
Located further to the east, the Haven Center operates as an emergency residential program for individuals unable to find available beds in Erie County.
Target Population: Serves single men, single women, and families.
Services: Offers continuous shelter operations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; daily meals; clothing; and individual transition plans to secure permanent housing placement.
Location and Admissions: 1536 E 30th St, Lorain, OH 44055. Inquiries regarding admission procedures may be directed to (440) 277-9272.
Long-Term & Income-Based Housing Assistance
Erie Metropolitan Housing Authority (EMHA)
The Erie Metropolitan Housing Authority (EMHA) administers long-term subsidized housing programs, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), for low- and moderate-income residents of Erie County.
Housing Programs
Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8): The EMHA manages 1,218 tenant-based vouchers. Participants select a privately owned rental unit. The EMHA pays a portion of the rent directly to the landlord. The tenant’s payment cannot exceed 30% of their adjusted gross income.
Public Housing Program: The EMHA operates 227 income-based public housing units in Sandusky. This includes properties such as Bayshore Towers (studio and one-bedroom units for individuals aged 55+ or persons with disabilities) and Community Plaza (exclusive to individuals aged 62+).
Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program: A voluntary initiative for voucher holders that offers case management to map out financial goals and build long-term independence.
Eligibility Criteria
Income Limits: Eligibility is directly tied to your annual gross income in relation to the Area Median Income.
Background Checks: To qualify, applicants must not have a history of felonies, criminal offenses, or drug-related violations within the past three years.
Demographics: Certain specific properties have restrictions based on household status (seniors) or the presence of a documented disability.
Applications and Waitlist
Applications are accepted only when the waitlist for a specific program is declared open. All major general waitlists are currently closed to new applicants. Waitlist openings are announced on the Waitlist Portal of the official EMHA website.
When a waiting list opens, pre-applications may be completed through the EMHA Tenant Portal or in person. Once you reach the top of the list, the EMHA will contact you to verify your income and household information prior to the signing of the lease agreement.
Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP)
The Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP) offers comprehensive housing assistance, emergency rental aid, and support services to residents who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes throughout Erie County (including Sandusky) and the surrounding counties of Northwest Ohio.
Housing Programs and Services
Rapid Rehousing: Offers short-term financial housing aid and security deposit assistance to facilitate a quick transition for homeless individuals or families into independent apartments. Participants must find a landlord willing to partner with the program and contribute 30% of their gross income toward rent payments.
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH): Provides long-term housing assistance for chronically homeless participants. To qualify, at least one family member must have a verified disability, or the household must be fleeing a long-term domestic violence situation. Under this model, GLCAP acts as the primary leaseholder and covers the full rent, while participants pay a tiered occupancy fee.
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF): Specialized assistance for veterans covering rental arrears, first month’s rent, moving expenses, utility bills, and budget counseling for housing emergencies. To participate, veterans must have an income at or below 50% of their county’s Area Median Income guidelines.
Youth Housing Assistance: Residential stabilization programs specifically targeted at young adults aged 18 to 24 who are homeless, lack family support, or are fleeing unsafe environments.
Homelessness Prevention and Landlord Counseling: Offers personalized education regarding landlord and tenant rights, eviction prevention counseling, and financial literacy instruction. While GLCAP’s central administrative office operates from Fremont, local field staff manage housing assessments directly in Sandusky.
Sandusky Service Point: 221 W Parish St, Sandusky, OH 44870
Hours of Operation: Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
ADAMHS Board of Erie County
The Erie County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board funds and coordinates specialized residential housing programs for individuals in Sandusky who are in recovery from substance use disorders, mental health conditions, or related crises.
Housing Programs and Features
Health and Recovery Housing: Provides substance-free, communal living spaces tailored to individuals who are rebuilding their lives after addiction. These residences offer peer support, connections to behavioral health counseling services, and assistance with job placement.
Permanent Supportive Housing: Offers stable, long-term housing—accompanied by comprehensive on-site services—for homeless individuals facing complex mental health challenges or documented physical disabilities.
Subsidized Treatment Partnerships: Operates in collaboration with key local providers—such as the Volunteers of America Crossroads Shelter—to cover care costs for individuals transitioning out of conventional emergency housing.
The ADAMHS Board functions as an administrative oversight agency, not as a direct landlord; this means that it is not possible to simply walk into the building and obtain a room immediately.
All referrals to funded recovery and supportive housing programs must be reviewed and authorized by a specialized Clinical Oversight Committee. Prospective residents must first be actively working with an approved community provider of mental health or addiction services (such as Firelands Counseling & Recovery Services) so that a clinical social worker can submit an application on their behalf.
Office Address: 2900 Columbus Ave, 2nd Floor, Sandusky, OH 44870
General Administrative Phone: Call (419) 627-1908
Financial Assistance and Basic Needs Support
Salvation Army of Sandusky, OH
The Salvation Army of Sandusky offers vital services for homelessness prevention, financial crisis intervention, and basic needs support, aiming to help families facing instability remain in their homes or recover following a disruption in their housing situation.
Housing Services and Assistance
Eviction Prevention: Offers emergency rental assistance, helping families facing sudden financial hardship avoid losing their apartments. Fund availability depends directly on current funding cycles.
Emergency Utility Assistance: Serves as a “last-resort program” to prevent utility shut-offs. It provides emergency financial aid to pay off overdue electricity, heating, or water bills.
Food Pantry: Operates a regular local food distribution program, providing emergency food boxes to individuals experiencing food insecurity.
Transitional Housing Referrals: Works closely with regional shelters to connect single adults and homeless families with temporary housing options for a period of up to six months.
The local office handles phone inquiries and schedules appointments Monday through Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Victory Kitchen
Victory Kitchen, located in Sandusky, Ohio, is a year-round non-profit program that provides free hot meals, as well as basic hygiene services, to individuals and families experiencing homelessness or financial hardship.
Services Offered
Free Hot Meals: A daily meal service provided without any ID or verification requirements.
Breakfast: Served from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Lunch: Served from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Hygiene Facilities: Offers free access to hot showers and laundry facilities during regular operating hours.
Open Pantry and Supplies: Distributes emergency groceries, clothing, hygiene products, and fresh vegetables outside the facility, subject to availability.
Community Events: Organizes community resource days featuring free haircuts, information from the Health Department, and job application assistance provided by the Erie County Department of Employment and Family Services.
If you are facing imminent eviction or a sudden housing crisis, you can dial 2-1-1 or visit the official 211 website to speak with a local crisis operator, who can immediately connect you with available shelter placements or emergency funding.
