What is Project Hope for the Homeless?

Project Hope for the Homeless is the only emergency homeless shelter in Lake County, Ohio. Since 1993, the 50-bed shelter at 25 Freedom Road in Painesville Township has provided shelter, care, and guidance to nearly 10,000 children and adults experiencing homelessness. Governed by the Ecumenical Shelter Network of Lake County, Project Hope for the Homeless runs an adult shelter, a program for families with children, an aftercare program, transitional housing for seniors, and a Welcome Home Center for guests moving into their own homes.

Adventure Subaru, a family-owned Subaru retailer in Painesville, Ohio, has partnered with Project Hope for the Homeless since 2020. Together we've run donation drives, delivered new coats for children every winter through Subaru Loves to Help, and raised $23,406 for the shelter as its Hometown Charity in the 2023 Subaru Share the Love Event. Project Hope for the Homeless is our Hometown Charity again for the 2026 event.

Restoring hope, renewing lives

"Restoring Hope. Renewing Lives." is how Project Hope for the Homeless describes its work. A bed for the night is where it starts, but the goal is a guest who leaves for a home of their own and doesn't come back.

More than a bed

The Adult Shelter provides safe, temporary housing for men and women. Families Moving Forward gives families with children shelter, meals, and support. Aftercare stays with former guests after they move out, through home visits and support groups. Hope House offers transitional housing and case management for seniors.

The Welcome Home Center, a 700-square-foot space that opened in February 2024, lets guests moving into their own homes choose donated household items and small furniture for free.

The results

In 2025, Project Hope for the Homeless served 361 guests, including 54 children. About 79 percent of guests move into their own housing or enter in-person behavioral health treatment, in an average of 31 days. Many former guests come back as volunteers, employees, or donors.

If you need shelter

Shelter reservations are made by dialing 2-1-1 from a Lake County landline, or by calling (440) 639-4420 from any phone.

How to support Project Hope for the Homeless

Project Hope for the Homeless relies on the community for the supplies and support that keep the shelter running. There are two ways to help - one that goes directly to Project Hope for the Homeless, and one that goes through Adventure Subaru.

Support Project Hope for the Homeless directly

Project Hope for the Homeless keeps a Current Needs List of the items the shelter is short on right now. Financial donations, volunteer shifts, collection drives, and Final Friday Tours of the shelter all start on the Project Hope for the Homeless website.

projecthopeforthehomeless.org/how-to-help/current-needs-list/

projecthopeforthehomeless.org/donate/

Support Project Hope for the Homeless through Adventure Subaru

From November 19, 2026, through January 4, 2027, Project Hope for the Homeless is our Hometown Charity for the Subaru Share the Love Event. Every new Subaru you buy or lease from Adventure Subaru sends $75 to the shelter, and every qualifying service visit sends $5.

Year-round, if the shelter's donation hours don't fit your schedule, bring new items from the Current Needs List to Adventure Subaru, 1991 Mentor Avenue in Painesville, anytime we're open. We'll deliver them to Project Hope for the Homeless.

community@440asubaru.com for questions about our community work or how to get involved.