Catholic Charities Diocese of Columbus serves 23 central Ohio counties with refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, emergency food and housing help, counseling, and senior services. Columbus has welcomed Somali, Congolese, Bhutanese, and other refugee communities over the past two decades, and the agency coordinates much of the resettlement support behind those arrivals. This page explains its programs and the practical steps for donating, volunteering, or requesting assistance.
Columbus holds one of the most diverse immigrant populations of any Midwest city, including one of the largest Somali communities in the United States. That mix shapes what Catholic Charities does here: resettlement coordination for newly arrived families, plus the follow-on social support, housing help, and counseling that decide whether a family stabilizes or cycles through crisis. The first months involve housing, school enrollment, medical appointments, and job searches, and coordinating all of it is the agency's specialty.
Serving this population well requires more than translation. The agency's work includes culturally informed services shaped by the communities it serves, from Somali-speaking case management needs to halal food options in food assistance. Immigration legal services handle DACA renewals, naturalization, and family petitions.
Beyond refugee and immigrant services, the agency runs emergency food and housing assistance, counseling, and senior services across its 23-county territory. Ohio's other dioceses, including Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Youngstown, and Steubenville, operate their own Catholic Charities agencies, so residents outside central Ohio should contact their local diocese.
The donation page is the direct route to funding central Ohio programs. Unrestricted cash gives staff room to respond to whatever surges, whether that is a new arrival cohort needing apartment setups or a spike in emergency housing requests.
Senior services and counseling receive far less donor attention than refugee programs but serve local residents across all 23 counties. If you want an underfunded corner, ask the agency where the gaps are before earmarking your gift.
Household goods and gift cards can be useful for newly resettled families, but confirm current needs with staff before donating items. An apartment setup list changes with every arrival cycle, and storage space is finite.
Volunteer needs shift with arrival numbers and program cycles, so check the official site for current openings rather than assuming. Roles supporting newly arrived families, food programs, and seniors are typical across diocesan Catholic Charities agencies.
All services are open to people of all faiths. If you need help with food, housing, immigration paperwork, or senior support, the website lists program-specific contacts for the 23-county service area.
A sensible habit for any gift: verify 501(c)(3) status through the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search at apps.irs.gov and check the organization on Charity Navigator. Keep written acknowledgments for donations of $250 and up; you will need them for a deduction.
Sources: Catholic Charities Diocese of Columbus official site (columbuscatholiccharities.org); our Ohio charity guide research. Retrieved July 2026. We are not affiliated with Catholic Charities Diocese of Columbus and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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