Closed Columbus church bought by nonprofit to become drop-in center for homeless youth

Yahoo

07-08-2025

Home to a parish and school for decades, a local Catholic church is set to get new life as a sanctuary for young people experiencing homelessness.
Star House, a nonprofit serving homeless youth ages 14 to 24, purchased the former St. Ladislas Church on Reeb Avenue for $1.17 million in July and has plans to turn it into its second drop-in center.
The sale comes after the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus closed South Side churches St. Ladislas and Corpus Christi in 2023 as part of a broad reorganization and closure of churches.
At the time, the Diocese noted fewer parishioners, less attendance at Mass and a shortage of priests among reasons for the closures.
Growing need for services for homeless youth
Whereas the church experienced declining attendance, Star House is seeing growing need across the community.
"We are busting at the seams at the current drop-in center with the numbers we're seeing," said Ann Bischoff, CEO of Star House.
Nationwide Children's buys former Catholic church site, plans to create affordable housing
In the past four years, the number of people served at its existing North Side drop-in center at 1220 Corrugated Way has more than doubled, going from 819 individuals in 2021 to 1,712 this past year, Bischoff said.
The organization turns no young person in need away and serves around 250 people per week, she said.
The 14,000-square-foot space is buzzing with people as youth can eat in the 24/7 kitchen, get clothing and hygiene items, use the facilities to take a shower and do laundry, access therapy and case management services, rest and more.
The need for drop-in centers for homeless youth
Each year, an estimated 10,000 young people in Franklin County experience homelessness, Bischoff said. The reasons differ but no matter why young people are homeless, there's not enough housing to change their circumstances, she said.
There are four people waiting for every low-income unit available locally. While they wait, people need a safe place to be, she said, especially vulnerable youth.
Star House is the only place in central Ohio where youth ages 14 to 24 and their small children can have immediate access to safety and resources, all in one place, Bischoff said.
It's the immediate access that sets Star House's drop-in center apart, as people can come to the door, do a brief intake process and access therapy, food and help finding employment and housing, Bischoff said.
"The South Side purchase was strategic and timely and we're eager to complete construction," Bischoff said.
When the church closed, parishioners were sent to St. Mary Catholic Church in German Village, which is also where the proceeds from the sale of St. Ladislas and Corpus Christi went, said Jason Mays, Diocesan spokesman.
St. Ladislas Church was built in 1907 by Hungarian migrants and their descendants, with the rectory and convent built within the next 10 years, according to The Columbus Dispatch archives and the Catholic Times, the publication of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus. It was renovated in 1983, according to the Catholic Times.
Unlike the July 24 sale of Corpus Christi Catholic Church to the nonprofit Healthy Homes, there was no stipulation in the sale to demolish the building, Bischoff said.
Star House plans renovations of St. Ladislas
"This is a beautiful property," she said. "We'll be able to renovate and move in. It's in pristine condition."
Star House plans to do renovations including new flooring, new roofing and is partnering with COhatch on interior design, said Bischoff. Changes will begin this year and the plan is to be finished by the end of 2026.
The property includes a total of more than 26,000 square feet, split among a sanctuary, a former school and a convent, Bischoff said.
The sanctuary will be a drop-in center, offering immediate access to safety, food, clothing, case management, therapy and other basic needs. The former school area will be a community hub with Star House partners setting up in that space to offer services.
Another 800 square feet will be the Star Works Center, a transitional employment program where youth work for start-up businesses on site when they can, with no penalty if they can't.
There is also space underneath the sanctuary and the use is to be determined with other local youth-serving groups, with an announcement to come, Bischoff said.
The convent, measuring around 3,000 square feet, will become housing, and Star House plans to work with other local groups to create it.
Star House partners with more than 90 other organizations, and has some other ideas for the property and how it can serve young people in additional ways. It's open to more partnerships, Bischoff said.
As part of a $10 million campaign for the new location and upgrades to its current building, Star House has raised $8 million. They also need operating funds, as the state cut $1 million per year this year and next for Star House's budget, Bischoff said.
"We're going to need funding to support this future project," she said.
Those interested in learning more or donating can visit www.starhouse.us.
Underserved Communities Reporter Danae King can be reached at [e-mail] or on X at @DanaeKing.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: St. Ladislas to get new life as drop-in center for homeless youth
Solve the daily Crossword