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Columbus Area Community Resources

Columbus Area Community Resources

Students may find additional assistance from these community resources. This list does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of services from IU Columbus.

Basic Needs

2026 Bartholomew County Housing List

This list is published by the United Way of Bartholomew County. It lists apartments in Columbus that accept housing vouchers.

Bartholomew County Resource List

This list is compiled by the Bartholomew County government. It contains federal, statewide, and local resources for necessary services in Bartholomew County.

Love Chapel

Based in Columbus, Indiana, Love Chapel is a ministry of the Ecumenical Assembly of Bartholomew County Churches. They offer community services for all county residents, including a food pantry, hot meals, temporary housing, and financial assistance.

Su Casa

The mission of Su Casa is to increase self-sufficiency, health, economic independence, education, and ensure Latino families feel safe and belong in Columbus, Indiana.

United Way

United Way of Bartholomew County brings together the most talented and passionate people in the community to develop lasting solutions to the community's most pressing social issues. They quickly and effectively connect community members to crucial health and human services.

Childcare

Bright Beginnings

Bright Beginnings: Affordable, quality, licensed child care for children 6 weeks through 3 years. Follow this link, under Programs.

Central Avenue KinderCare

Ages 1-12 years

Children Inc. Learning Center

Licensed childcare learning center for infants to 12 years. Accepts vouchers and may offer scholarships.

Foundation For Youth

Boys & Girls Club offers structured afterschool programming for ages 5-18. BCSC busses can drop off students.

FSSA Child Care Assistance Program (State of Indiana)

The Child Care and Development Fund is a federal program that helps low-income families obtain child care so that they may work, attend training or continue their education. The CCDF program is administered through the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.

Cultural Resources

African American Foundation Bartholomew County

African American Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to helping Black community members in Bartholomew County thrive.

Columbus Area Multi-Ethnic Organization (CAMEO)

CAMEO is an extension of the Welcoming Community initiative and addresses the need for proactive diversity strategies. CAMEO is comprised of nine area ethnic associations that have joined together to share their cultures and traditions with each other. - Trinbago Association - Pakistan Association - Middle Eastern Association - Columbus Latin American Association - Columbus Korean Association - Columbus Japanese Business Association - Columbus Chinese Association - Columbus African American Association

Columbus Pride Festival

Columbus Pride Festival works to unite Columbus, IN as one community that celebrates diversity, fosters inclusion for all and celebrates LGBTQA+ residents, allies, and their families.

Ethnic Expo

Ethnic Expo is a weekend of events celebrating cultures that come together in Columbus, Indiana to create a vibrant, welcoming community. The festival is usually held on the second weekend in October.

Get Connected – Visitors Center Resource/Info List

This list compiled by the Columbus Visitors Center is a guide for things to do and ways to get connected in Columbus, Indiana.

NAACP Columbus/Bartholomew County Branch

The mission of NAACP Columbus/Bartholomew is to achieve equity, political rights, and social inclusion by advancing policies and practices that expand human and civil rights, eliminate discrimination, and accelerate the well-being, education, and economic security of Black people and all persons of color.

Umoja

The Black and Biracial Youth Initiative aims to understand community challenges, barriers to academic success, and then collaborate with community partners to co-create strategies that will improve education outcomes for Black and Biracial Youth.

Domestic Violence Resources

Turning Point Domestic Violence Services

Turning Point’s mission is to work toward the prevention and the elimination of domestic and dating violence. They offer emergency shelter and a 24-hour helpline, non-residential services, prevention education, and professional training.

Employment Resources

Bartholomew County Works

This program is run out of the Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center. It connects residents of Bartholomew County to a personal coach who can assist with job searching and addressing barriers to employment.

Bartholomew County Wellness Directory

This resource directory was created by the Council for Youth Development. It provides the address and contact information for key service providers, including meal sites.

WorkOne – Columbus

Helping Hoosiers in Southeast Indiana find and grow in careers that are productive and fulfilling.

Health & Legal Services

Bartholomew County Health Department, Nursing

The Bartholomew County Health Department supports the residents of Bartholomew County in disease prevention, health education, vital records, environmental health, and public health preparedness. Services include: Immunization clinic for infants and youth aged birth to 18, STD clinic, HIV counseling and testing, TB testing, pregnancy testing and prenatal vitamin program.

Bartholomew County Wellness Directory

This resource directory was created by the Council for Youth Development. It provides the address and contact information for key service providers, including meal sites.

Columbus Human Rights Commission

The Columbus Human Rights Commission leads Columbus in building and maintaining an inclusive community by enforcing the Human Rights Ordinance, educating the public, challenging attitudes and systems that create barriers to equality, and empowering community members to advance this mission.

Damien Center

Founded in 1987, Damien Center is Indiana’s oldest and largest HIV/AIDS service organization and serves more than 8,000 individuals living with or at risk for HIV through a comprehensive, innovative approach to HIV care and prevention.

GenderNexus

Since 2014, GenderNexus has served Indiana as a safe, inclusive space for gender-diverse people and their loved ones to find the support they need. Their work helps gender-diverse people overcome social and systemic barriers through education, community, and direct support.

Indiana Legal Services

Indiana Legal Services, Inc. (ILS) is a nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income residents throughout the state of Indiana.

Mental Health Matters Bartholomew County

Mental Health Matters Bartholomew County is a community-wide initiative created to address challenges and improve the mental health system for the wellbeing of youth and adults in Bartholomew County.

Parenting Resources

The Arc of Bartholomew County Community Resource List

The Arc of Bartholomew County is a 501(C)-3 Nonprofit Organization that promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes. This list provides the contact information of various disability services in Bartholomew County.

Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center

The LCNFC represents one of the largest “grassroots movements” ever to take place in Bartholomew County serving the downtown Columbus, IN area. The LCNFC collaborates with community resources to offer a wide array of programs and activities that address seven priority needs (safety, infrastructure, health, education, positive youth development, parent-child interaction and parent support).

Transportation

ColumBUS Transit

Public transit schedule for Columbus, Indiana.

Columbus Area Community Resources