Client Services
When people come to our 112 E Liberty St. location for emergency food assistance, they are encouraged to meet with staff members. Through this process, we help determine if there are other needs such as housing, clothing, money management, or job assistance, as we provide a referral to one of our programs or to another social services agency to ensure that all needs are met.
We will have extended summer hours on Wednesdays from 8:30AM - 7PM.
Emergency Services
Social Services Department
After meeting with a staff member, individuals may receive food, hygiene products, infant care products and household items.
Bus tokens are available through Everybody Rides Metro for verified work and doctors appointments.
Our Back on Track Clothing Program provides individuals with free work-related and emergency clothing for themselves and their families.
Other services include Birth Certificate and ID replacement as well as fan and heater distribution and referrals can be made for services for persons with homelessness, disabilities, mental health, substance abuse and domestic violence.
Food Room
Emergency food available is available Monday – Friday 8am-3pm. We accept donations of food, clothing at household items in our Front Bay from Monday – Friday, 8am-4pm.
Housing Services
Our Housing Services help people in need find safe and affordable places to live through case management services that provide support in the housing search and placement, rental assistance, and housing subsidies. Additionally, this program helps to manage clients’ housing money to ensure time rent and bill payments and budgeting, which reduces eviction and homelessness.
Benefit Enrollment Center
Medicaid Outreach Program
Many in our region are uninsured, and our Medicaid Outreach Program helps Hamilton County residents to apply for Medicaid using the Ohio Benefits Bank. We partner with other community agencies to determine who is in need of medical insurance, and we aid in application process from start to finish, ensuring that all requirements are met.
SSI Jobs
By providing clinical exams, housing assistance, job training, mental health and substance abuse care, the SSI program allows homeless persons to be better prepared to apply for Social Security Benefits. A Continuum of Care certificate is required in order to participate in the SSI Jobs program.
ABAWD (Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents)
This program, which is a partnership with Hamilton County Job and Family Services, helps individuals ages 18-49 break through barriers preventing them from obtaining Food Stamps. In order to obtain and maintain Food Stamp benefits, there is a 25 hour-per- month work requirement, and this program helps match those in need of meeting this requirement with volunteer opportunities through Community and Earn Work Site Partners. The ABAWD Program works in collaboration with many community agencies to provide proper identification, appropriate job clothes, and transportation fees to ensure that volunteers are job ready.
HUD Subsidized Housing
Housing placement and care management is provided to those individuals who are certified as chronically homeless.
Financial Services
Protective Payee
For those that are unable to manage their own money for any reason, our Protective Payee Program can help with budgeting, banking, advocacy and crisis intervention as well as Direct Rent that ensures timely rent and bill payment. Individuals are often referred to our program by the Hamilton County Mental Health, MRDD, Health Care for the Homeless program, and other social services organizations.
Capacity Development Center
The Capacity Development Center provides Member Agencies with educational opportunities focused on all aspects of nonprofit management. These opportunities, workshops, and programs include a variety of resources that enable an agency to achieve optimization of its services within its community:
Leadership, financial management & fundraising
Volunteer recruitment & retention
Information technology & computer skills
Infrastructure building
Nutrition and Health and Wellness
Distribution processes
Food stamp administration
The services of the Capacity Development Center are provided to Member Agencies as a benefit of belonging to the Freestore Foodbank membership and supported by the Mayerson Foundation.
Contact Us:
Mary Sehlhorst, Manager, Capacity Development Center
Capacity@freestorefoodbank.org, 513-482-4532 (office)
Faculty Committee
Do you know someone who is reputable as a role model to lead, coach and/or mentor other nonprofit leaders? We are seeking individuals knowledgeable in nonprofit management, and/or skilled in managing a food pantry, soup kitchen, homeless shelter, successful at helping clients become self-sufficient and nonprofit organizations sustainable. If you or someone you know qualifies and would like to volunteer, please contact Mary Sehlhorst, Capacity@freestorefoodbank.org, 513-482-4532.
