FAQs
What is Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio?
What programs and services are provided in Sandusky?
Are there homeless people in Erie County?
What is the Crossroads Shelter and who does it help?
What is the Crossroads Community Campaign?
Why are you doing the campaign now?
Can I see the Crossroads Shelter for myself?
How much money do you need to make the improvements at the Crossroads Shelter?
How much money have your raised towards your goal?
When I give money to the Crossroads Community Campaign how is my donation spent?
If I can't give financially, how else can I help the Campaign?
How can my business or organization support the Campaign?
How is Crossroads funded on a day-to-day basis?
How many people are helped at Crossroads and how are they helped?
Who can I contact about the Crossroads Community Campaign?
What is Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio?
Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio is more than a nonprofit organization. We are a ministry of service with nearly 1,000 paid, professional employees dedicated to helping people reach their full potential and build a brighter future.
Through human services programs, including housing and healthcare, Volunteers of America helps more than 23,000 people in Greater Ohio including veterans, families, youth, men and women. Our services are tailored to each community we serve. In helping those in need, we are helping each community thrive and remain vibrant. Our services are focused in the metropolitan areas of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Sandusky, and Toledo.
For more information, read our About Us page.
What programs and services are provided in Sandusky?
We provide a wide variety of programs and services in Sandusky. We offer a food pantry, temporary housing for veterans and other housing services
For more information, click here.
Are there homeless people in Erie County?
Yes, there is homelessness in Erie County on any given night there are 236 homeless people in Erie County. In 2016, 407 people needed shelter at Crossroads. See below for more statistics about homelessness in Erie County.
What is the Crossroads Shelter and who does it help?
Since 1999, Crossroads has been open to help the young and elderly, men, women, families, and veterans find their right path to a sustainable life. At Crossroads we provide supportive services, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, mental health and addiction treatment, and emergency shelter for veterans, families, men and women. Simply put, Crossroads is a place for shelter, support, and help when someone in our community needs it.
What is the Crossroads Community Campaign?
When we purchased the Crossroads building in 1999, we did the work to retrofit the building to become a shelter that can help men, women, families and veterans. Since that time, thousands of people have needed help at Crossroads. And that need has taken its toll on the building. We haven't been able to update the building since '99. And now, it really needs your help.
Because Crossroads has been a stepping-stone to thousands of people in the Sandusky area for the past 18 years, it has been over-taxed and is in desperate need of repair. To be successful, the individuals, veterans, and families need the programs at Crossroads to be surrounded with a supportive environment, not just supportive services in a run-down building. They need to feel safe, comforted, and helped. To help them feel this way, we need to rebuild this environment to demonstrate how much we care about them and how we can help. A shower with soggy drywall, and poorly working plumbing for example, does not demonstrate that.
Read more here in the full Case for Support.
Why are you doing the campaign now?
The repairs in the building can't wait. We started the assessment and damage report in early 2016. Later that year, to kick start our work, we submitted for and were awarded funding from Ohio's Capital Funding program. This included a match requirement for additional funding. We have also met with our partners and friends in the community for advice and help. They too can testify to the urgency and need for repairs at the Crossroads Shelter. One such friend said, "I wouldn't shower there, so how can I expect anyone to shower there?"
We have enough money to begin construction, and because the repairs and enhancements are needed urgently, we will begin. But we need your help to keep the momentum going.
Can I see the Crossroads Shelter for myself?
You bet. We welcome visitors to take a closer look and really get to know how the Crossroads Shelter works every day. Sign up for a tour today.
How much money do you need to make the improvements at the Crossroads Shelter?
Today we are seeking $450,000 in gap funding to complete all of the renovations at Crossroads. We are seeking an additional $100,000 to ensure Crossroads' programs can continue to thrive and be available to our most vulnerable residents. The good news is Ohio's Capital Funding to End Homelessness approved $457,700 in funding to support our renovations. But, they did so with the understanding that we would seek out additional and matching funding from our community and stakeholders.
How much money have your raised towards your goal?
Ohio's Capital Funding to End Homelessness has generously supported this project with $472,300. Plus all of the Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio Board members have made a personal commitment to the campaign as well as members of our generous community.
We have raised $820,631 of our goal of $1,030,849.
When I give money to the Crossroads Community Campaign how is my donation spent?
Every donation goes straight to the bottom line of the construction costs.
If I can't give financially, how else can I help the Campaign?
You can help in many ways. See the ways you can help.
How can my business or organization support the Campaign?
Your business or organization can help in many ways. See the ways you can help.
How is Crossroads funded on a day-to-day basis?
Our funding comes from public support of our community, government funding and the United Way of Erie County.
How many people are helped at Crossroads and how are they helped?
Since 1999, Crossroads has been open to help the young and old, the family, and the veteran find their right path to a sustainable life. Throughout the Crossroads Community Campaign you'll read words and phrases like supportive services, transitional housing, evidence-based practice, rapid rehousing, adult care facility, mental health housing, and emergency shelter. These are all types of services we offer individuals and families in the Sandusky area who are at a crossroads in their lives.
Individuals and families who seek shelter at Crossroads, often times come with multiple barriers, including hunger. At Crossroads we provide more than a safe place to sleep, we provide supportive services, food for our neighbors who are hungry and emergency rental assistance to help families stay in their homes.
During 2015-2016, with the support of our community over 5,049 people were helped through programs and services at Crossroads.
Who can I contact about the Crossroads Community Campaign?
Becky Carlino
Development Officer
419-482-1620
Becky.carlino@voago.org