The story of our founding in Toledo
The organization is a chapter of the national Off the Streets network, which was founded in 2009 by Deacon Michael Oles in Danbury, Connecticut. Deacon Oles, a long-term volunteer at the Dorothy Day Hospitality House, recognized the need for a structured approach to help homeless individuals secure permanent housing. His efforts led to the establishment of Off the Streets, which has since expanded to include multiple chapters across the United States, including the Toledo chapter.
In 2021, Deacon Ed Irelan, serving as a chaplain with Catholic Charities in Toledo, was ministering to men and women in area prisons. When COVID-19 struck, in-person visits were halted; and at the same time, the prison system began releasing individuals at an accelerated pace. Suddenly, Deacon Ed found himself fielding calls from recently released individuals who had no place to go and no basic possessions. Doing all he could with limited resources, Deacon Ed scrambled to connect people to housing and scrounge up furniture, but he knew it wasn’t sustainable.
In early September 2021, while searching for ideas and guidance, he stumbled across the national Off the Streets organization. He immediately reached out to Deacon Mike Oles, who responded with enthusiasm and offered to come to Toledo to help launch a new chapter. Deacon Ed gathered several men from his St. Joseph Maumee Knights of Columbus council for a meeting with Deacon Mike.
By the end of that initial meeting, attendees had pledged enough funding to get started, selected a volunteer to serve as the first president, and agreed to help one identified family immediately. Within just a few weeks, on October 1, 2020, Off the Streets Toledo was officially incorporated in the State of Ohio, and the first family served. Those in attendance had no idea what they were getting into and began with blind faith. That faith, rooted in prayer and a willingness to serve, proved to be the foundation God would bless over and over again as the ministry grew.
Growing Support and Shared Mission
In the early months, Epworth Furniture Ministry provided critical support by supplying furniture. Epworth is a respected community outreach that assists individuals referred to them by social service agencies. However, within a year, the number of families Off the Streets Toledo was helping had grown so much that Epworth could no longer continue to support us along with the 10 other ministries they served.
That’s when Fr. Eric Schild, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Maumee, stepped forward. He offered space for a warehouse on the church campus and formally brought the ministry under the parish’s sponsorship. This support was transformative and aligned beautifully with St. Joseph Maumee’s Sacred Purpose: “To engage community, encounter Christ, and transform lives on our journey to heaven.” Off the Streets Toledo lives out this Sacred Purpose each and every week. The ministry engages the community through volunteers and supporters. It encounters Christ in the faces of those being served. And it transforms lives by creating new beginnings for families who had once faced homelessness.
Around this same time, a delivery truck was donated, allowing teams to transport beds, furniture, kitchenware, and household essentials directly into homes.
Neighbor Testimonials
FRESH START AFTER FLEEING ABUSE: "I left everything behind when I escaped my abusive husband. After weeks in the YWCA shelter, I was finally able to move into my own place, but I had nothing—no bed, no couch, not even a table to eat at. When the Off the Streets arrived with a truck full of furniture, I couldn’t believe it. They not only brought me the things I needed, but they prayed with me and reminded me that I wasn’t alone. This is more than just furniture; this is my fresh start.”
REUNITING A FAMILY: “After years of struggling with homelessness, I finally secured a place of my own. The best part? I’m on track to get my children back now that I have a stable home. The volunteers from Off the Streets Toledo didn’t just bring furniture—they brought hope. My kids will have beds to sleep in, a kitchen table for meals, and a couch where we can sit together as a family. This is the first real home I’ve had in years, and I thank God for this blessing.”
ESCAPING AN UNSAFE LIVING SITUATION: “I was living in a place that was falling apart—no heat, no working plumbing, and mold growing everywhere. It wasn’t safe, but I had nowhere else to go. When I was finally able to move, I had nothing to take with me. That’s when Off the Streets Toledo stepped in. They filled my new home with furniture, dishes, and even bedding. I don’t have to sleep on the floor anymore. For the first time in a long time, I feel safe, and I know I am not forgotten.”
A Community Movement
Since our founding through the end of 2024, Off the Streets Toledo has assisted 804 neighbors get off the streets and into stable housing. Of the total, nearly half have been children. Volunteers from St. Joseph Parish, the Knights of Columbus, and a wide range of other churches, councils, and community groups across the Toledo area have made that possible. Each Saturday, teams gather to furnish and bless homes, always guided by the same spirit of faith, compassion, and purpose that launched our mission.
FRESH START AFTER FLEEING ABUSE: "I left everything behind when I escaped my abusive husband. After weeks in the YWCA shelter, I was finally able to move into my own place, but I had nothing—no bed, no couch, not even a table to eat at. When the Off the Streets arrived with a truck full of furniture, I couldn’t believe it. They not only brought me the things I needed, but they prayed with me and reminded me that I wasn’t alone. This is more than just furniture; this is my fresh start.”
REUNITING A FAMILY: “After years of struggling with homelessness, I finally secured a place of my own. The best part? I’m on track to get my children back now that I have a stable home. The volunteers from Off the Streets Toledo didn’t just bring furniture—they brought hope. My kids will have beds to sleep in, a kitchen table for meals, and a couch where we can sit together as a family. This is the first real home I’ve had in years, and I thank God for this blessing.”
ESCAPING AN UNSAFE LIVING SITUATION: “I was living in a place that was falling apart—no heat, no working plumbing, and mold growing everywhere. It wasn’t safe, but I had nowhere else to go. When I was finally able to move, I had nothing to take with me. That’s when Off the Streets Toledo stepped in. They filled my new home with furniture, dishes, and even bedding. I don’t have to sleep on the floor anymore. For the first time in a long time, I feel safe, and I know I am not forgotten.”
A Community Movement
Since our founding through the end of 2024, Off the Streets Toledo has assisted 804 neighbors get off the streets and into stable housing. Of the total, nearly half have been children. Volunteers from St. Joseph Parish, the Knights of Columbus, and a wide range of other churches, councils, and community groups across the Toledo area have made that possible. Each Saturday, teams gather to furnish and bless homes, always guided by the same spirit of faith, compassion, and purpose that launched our mission.
