“Finally a friend told me about La Posada. I came and I was surprised because it doesn’t look like a shelter. It looks just like a home." ~ Marquita
Seeking Shelter?
United Way processes families for La Posada Family Emergency Shelter. For immediate assistance, please dial 2-1-1 from any landline or 1-800-650-HELP to connect with an information and referral specialist.
La Posada Family Emergency Shelter offers temporary housing and supportive services to homeless families of all faiths and backgrounds in the Toledo area. Direct services through La Posada include safe shelter, food, clothing, personal hygiene products and compassionate case management.
Catholic Charities’ staff members help empower families to become self-sustaining through programs that help them identify goals and build on their strengths to attain them. By providing shelter, supportive resources and linking people to resources in the community, Catholic Charities helps vulnerable families achieve stable housing and become self-sustaining.
To speak with a La Posada staff member, dial 419-244-5931 for all other program and service inquiries.
La Posada Family Emergency Shelter Staff
Michelle Smith-Wojnowski, Program Coordinator
David Pattin, CHW, Residential Specialist II
Laitarsha Yowpp, Residential Specialist
Kathryn Tigney, Residential Specialist
What does La Posada Mean?
The name La Posada originated from the Spanish holiday, “Las Posadas.” The event is a nine-day celebration that represents the difficulties that Joseph and Mary, the mother of Jesus, faced in search of a room while traveling to Bethlehem.
Groups of children and adults go from house to house singing a traditional song requesting lodging (posada). At each house, the owner responds with refusal until Mary and Joseph reach the designated site for the party. The owner, or “innkeeper," recognizes Joseph and Mary, and they are finally allowed in. Today, Latin American countries continue to celebrate this holiday each year before Christmas.
Catholic Charities’ La Posada Family Emergency Shelter was initially established to serve the Hispanic community but now serves all families in need of a place to stay.
Since its opening more than 30 years ago, La Posada has provided shelter to more than 2,000 families.
For more information on our shelter or how you can help, please contact La Posada Family Emergency Shelter at 419-244-5931.
The need for services has never been greater. Our homeless shelters are full. Our crisis navigators and community emergency services staff report the need for housing assistance is at an all time high! Helping Hands of St. Louis is serving record high numbers of hot meals daily! The number seeking food from the HHSL Food Pantry is up 41 percent. The need for your financial support has never been greater!
Rodney Schuster, Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo's Executive Director, and Jen Lippus, Catholic Charities Development Director discuss top critical needs for our ministries right now. Both our La Posada Family Emergency Shelter and Miriam House, our transitional shelter for homeless women and their children, are full. Helping Hands of St. Louis is feeding record high numbers of individuals daily in our dining room and through our Food Pantry. All need food inventories re-stocked through in-kind donations or financial support https://catholiccharitiesnwo.org/how-to-help/donate.html
Our Project Bethlehem coordinators share their efforts: Jen Voight, Permanent Supportive Housing Program Coordinator, Willi Meyer, Activities and Facilities Manager at La Posada Family Emergency Shelter, and Sue Shrewsbery, Director of Helping Hands of St. Louis, Laurie Hamrick, Community Emergency Services Case Manager in Mansfield, and Breanna Mantz, Program Coordinator Huron County Community Emergency Services and Miriam House, our transitional shelter for homeless women and their children.
