Delaware

Delaware, Ohio is a college town about 25 miles north of Columbus, home to Ohio Wesleyan University, a walkable downtown, and a mix of small-city warmth with real economic divides beneath the surface. The average household income here runs around $95,000, but that figure masks plenty of struggle just outside the university district. Delaware County's most recent point-in-time count identified 47 people experiencing homelessness in 2023, a number advocates believe undercounts the reality, especially those sleeping in cars or doubling up with family. If you're here, the Delaware County Salvation Army offers meals and emergency assistance, HRDI (Health Recovery Services) can connect you to services if you're dealing with addiction or mental health needs, and the People In Need Ministries operates a food pantry and modest financial aid for utilities and rent. Andrews House, a local nonprofit hub, also coordinates referrals to housing and emergency resources for people in crisis. Winters can turn dangerous fast here, so don't hesitate to ask locals or staff at any of these places about warming shelters when temperatures drop. You're not invisible here, and there are people in this town who will treat you like you matter, because you do.