Member Spotlight: Lutheran Social Services

Member Spotlight by [Lutheran Social Services]

Provide us with a brief summary of your business’ services

We confront our community’s most urgent challenges with services that help people transform their lives. We focus on homelessness, affordable housing, domestic violence, community health and hunger.

Describe your company in three words

Impact, dignity, hope.

Share a recent project, client success, or example of your work in action.

Dennis came to LSS Faith Mission at age 62 after his first experience with homelessness. Chronic pain from back surgeries and a hip replacement made Dennis reliant on disability income, which meant finding affordable housing was difficult, but having a safe place to stay gave him stability. With help from his case manager, he submitted dozens of housing applications, saved money and even purchased a car to improve his mobility. Today, Dennis is hopeful about securing a home soon and dreams of using his background as a chef to start a small business, possibly a food truck. He says the support he received “gave me somewhere to go so I didn’t have to be on the street,” and it’s helped him rebuild with dignity.

How do you stay engaged with trends that you see in your industry?

We stay engaged by keeping a pulse on emerging needs in our community, collaborating with local and regional partners and using data from our programs to understand trends with those we serve. We participate in coalitions, stay connected to policy and funding trends and listen closely to our staff and the individuals and families we serve. This helps us adapt quickly and ensure our services remain responsive, dignified and effective.

What makes Columbus such a great place to do business?

Columbus is a great place to do business (and be a non-profit) because it’s a collaborative community where organizations work together to solve problems. The region’s diverse economy, strong public private partnerships and commitment to inclusive growth create an environment where both businesses and nonprofits can thrive. What stands out most is that so many companies, civic leaders and community organizations share the vision that every person in our city should have the chance to stabilize, rebuild and thrive.

What do you want people to remember about your business five years from now?

Five years from now, we want people to remember that LSS — a trusted part of Central Ohio since 1912 — uses our breadth and quality of services to uniquely address the complex challenges people face. Our integrated, whole person approach allows us to respond comprehensively, helping thousands of individuals find dignity, stability and lasting transformation.

Social Media:
X: https://x.com/lssco/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN3aaN06bjikpqiQu5iwooQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lutheransocialservicesofcentralohio
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lutheran-social-services-of-central-ohio/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lsscentralohio/
Website: www.lssnetworkofhope.org