Van Buren Shelter - Columbus, Ohio

Van Buren Shelter

Located at 595 Van Buren Dr, Columbus, OH 43223, Van Buren Shelter is a well-known homeless shelter that has been providing support and assistance to those in need for many years. The shelter is committed to helping individuals and families experiencing homelessness by offering emergency housing, food, clothing, and other essential services.

Specialties: Homeless shelter

Other points of interest: Wheelchair accessible entrance, Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Opinions: This company has 550 reviews on Google My Business.

Average opinion: 2.9/5.

The shelter is easily accessible by car, with a wheelchair accessible parking lot available for visitors. Upon arrival, guests will find a wheelchair accessible entrance, making it convenient for those with mobility issues to access the services provided. The shelter welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds, and staff members are trained to provide compassionate and professional support to every guest.

In addition to emergency housing, Van Buren Shelter also offers a variety of programs and services designed to help guests achieve long-term stability and self-sufficiency. These include job training, educational opportunities, mental health counseling, and substance abuse treatment. By addressing the root causes of homelessness, the shelter aims to empower guests to overcome their challenges and regain control of their lives.

To learn more about Van Buren Shelter and the services they offer, visit their website at ymcacolumbus.org. You can also call them directly at 47152030 for more information or to inquire about available services.

👍 Reviews of Van Buren Shelter

Gregory S.

1/5

Upon arrival for for our intake, we were rudely being told We couldn't bring perishable items inside. We had just spent the last of our money on food so we could have something to eat in the middle of the night per our usual. Had we been i formed of this beforehand or have signs posted with this information, we wouldn't have spent all that money on the groceries.

Victoria L. P.

1/5

So let me rewrite my review lol because after seeing all the other reviews I knew I wasn’t tripping. When I lived in this shelter years ago they had put me in this room that smelled Like straight urine, like beyond bad. I guess the woman who was in there before was handicapped and would just urinate and poop on the floor. I had two small kids at the time, and I complained about being in there— that’s how bad the smell was. They wouldn’t move us, so I had to mop and get plug-ins to get rid of the smell. I had to mop literally every day and night until the smell finally went away after a week. Second, there were two staff members who would disappear every third shift and be smashing— come to find out, present day those same two workers now have kids together and STILL work there! The bathrooms were extremely dirty; they only feed you three times a day, and if you miss meal time, oh well! We had to wear flip-flops in the showers because the floors were beyond nasty! Most of the workers don’t like their job and don’t want to help people who are in need. You have to have a thing called empathy working with people in need, and it has to be naturally in you because you can’t learn empathy at all. They need to really do some real work in this place because there is more I could say, but I’m not! Smh, it’s sad— it really is very sad, and it’s to the point people say no to going there and rather sleep in their cars or outside when they try to send you there!

John 1.

1/5

Make this your last resort and I do mean your LAST resort, I literally got physically sick because of these ppl lack of consideration and compassion by throwing us out in the cold all day & night, currently job searching and the fact that I'm sick makes even more difficult, haven't eaten in days cause I'm plant based and they refuse to feed me...very foul place from the staff to some of tenants...if you have a choice DON'T COME HERE...I pray everyday I find a job so I can get out...these ppl aren't right.

Amanda M. (. K.

1/5

The building built so that parents could have a kitchenette to feed their children and so they could be kept behind a locked door safe away from strangers WAS GIVEN TO SINGLE MEN.

Jackie ?. W.

1/5

I lived in this shelter for nearly a year. The employees are some of the worst human beings ever. They treat the ppl inhumane. I was very respectful… And for no reason at all they treated me horribly. An experience I never if God is willing ever want to go through again.

Mila S.

1/5

If I could leave zero stars I would! This is by far the worst shelter I have ever been to or seen! Staff clearly doesn’t care about this location. They talk to you with zero respect. If you’re an emergency overnight stay, prepare to not be allowed to eat! They refuse to feed families with small children! Yet staff and other families steal/hide food/items! My husband found a broken crack pipe in the shower! Many mothers there are so abusive to SMALL CHILDREN! Staff does NOTHING! Thought they were mandated reporters You got kids pulling fire alarms all hours of the night, people smoking crack and weed in the bathrooms triggering the fire alarms! Floors, tables and chairs are always so dirty! The whole two weeks we were there the common area was cleaned ONLY ONCE! Staff plays favorites amongst families! Place looks like a freaking jail and honestly it seems like one! I would never ever recommend this shelter to anyone, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE KIDS!!!! Families here have been here for 6+ months AND COMPLETE ZERO GOALS! It’s a damn shame they allow people to continually stay here if they aren’t doing anything to help themselves! Leaving zero space for families that really do need shelter! There’s never any soap in the dispensers in the bathroom, only one sink out of 12 in women’s washroom worked! There was always bodily fluids/excretions on the bathroom walls and toilet seats and floors! They need to completely close this place down or fire all the staff and start over!

Ashley C.

1/5

The place is filthy and some of the staff are just nasty to the people that reside there. There are a few good employees that definitely should be noticed. Being in the shelter is hard for people so to make it harder with a nasty attitude is fowl for real.

Amari P.

1/5

ONLY GETTING 1 STAR BECAUSE I CANT LEAVE 0!
DO NOT GO HERE!!! FIND SHELTER WITH SOMEONE ELSE! THEY WILL ADD STRESS TO YOUR LIFE!
Alison Tucker- the case manager is HORRIBLE! TRASH!! She is very rude and hard to deal with. She talks to you like you are lower than her and incompetent! She makes you feel worthless!! I hate dealing with her! Multiple people here at this shelter feel the same way!! She does not have to be this rude!!! Please find a better case manager who can be empathetic to those who are in need of assistance!