Who We Are
Star House provides local youth experiencing homelessness with a safe respite & the crucial connections to stabilizing resources — all in one welcoming place.
In fulfilling our mission, we serve youth, ages 14-24, one of the most vulnerable populations worldwide. In 2013, Star House served 531 individual young people. In 2018, we served more than 1,200 youth. These youth live directly on the streets or in abandoned buildings, or they couch surf from place to place. Most of our youth have been disconnected from their families, are significantly underserved by communities, and have been left to fend for themselves on the fringes of our society. With limited rights and privacy, they have little access to the services and supports needed to survive independently. These youth are at high risk for human trafficking and victimization.
Our vision is that every youth will have a home.
Factors Star House guests say led to their homelessness:
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Job loss and unemployment
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Inability to afford rent, even when employed
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Kicked out by family or friends
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Violent or abusive relationships
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Inability to afford other expenses (e.g. utilities, transportation, car repair)
Homeless youth statistics - BEFORE coming to Star House:
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82.4% experienced some difficulty getting enough to eat
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50.0% experienced some difficulty obtaining clothing
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20.6% experienced some difficulty obtaining medical care
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38.2% experienced some difficulty meeting their hygiene needs
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87.8% experienced some difficulty with any of the above basic needs
Our Founder
Natasha Slesnick, Ph.D. founded Star House in October 2006 and is highly committed to ending homelessness and its associated problems among one of the most vulnerable and underserved populations in our country (youth experiencing homelessness) and has been working with homeless youth since 1998. After opening a drop-in center for homeless youth in Albuquerque, NM, she moved to Columbus, OH and due to a gap in services in Columbus, opened a second drop-in center.
Dr. Slesnick is a licensed clinical psychologist; Professor of Human Development and Family Science in the Department of Human Sciences; and Associate Dean for Research and Administration in the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University. She has written over 100 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters as well as a sole-authored book focused primarily on interventions for homeless youth and families, entitled Our Runaway and Homeless Youth: A Guide to Understanding. She has consulted with multiple organizations on the best strategies for intervening in youth homelessness, and has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct randomized clinical trials to end homelessness and its associated problems among youth and families.
What We Do
Star House is youth-centered and provides access to the following services:
Basic Needs at a Safe Place
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Meals
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Kitchen
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Clothing
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Laundry
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Hygiene Items
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Showers
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Restrooms
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Mental Health Therapy
Connections to Stabilizing Resources
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ID Cards
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Transportation
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Legal Aide
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Housing Assistance
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Government Benefits (Medicaid, Food Stamps)
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Case Management
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Youth's Children Welcome On-site
Health & Wellness
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Medical Exam Room
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Counseling
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STI & HIV Testing
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Addiction Services
Connectivity & Technology
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Mailboxes
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Phone Booth
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Wifi
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Computer Lab
Employment & Education
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Job-seeking Assistance
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On-site Job Opportunities
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Workforce Development
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Employment Networking
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Education Supports
(Enrollment, Completion) -
Dropout Recovery
Recreation & Enrichment
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Art Studio
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Musical Instruments
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Basketball
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Yoga
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Board Games
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Gymnasium
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Mentorship
Details
| jlamere@starhouse.us | |
| Julie Lamere | |
| Director of Volunteer Services | |
| https://www.starhouse.us/ |
