After years of planning and renovations, Beach House Ashland is finally open!

Beach House Ashland was once the home of F.O.C.U.S. (Family Outreach Community United Services). According to toledotogether.org, "Founded in the traditions of faith and service, Family Outreach Community United Services (FOCUS) is a community based agency called to embrace people in need, bring voice to the voiceless, and restore hope and dignity to the forgotten. FOCUS fosters the skills that enable people to gain control of their lives and their futures by providing the necessary steps to emerge from homelessness and poverty, and gain economic and social stability."

In 2016, F.O.C.U.S. merged with Beach House Inc., a nearly 100-year-old emergency family shelter that offered behavioral health and housing services to families and single women facing homelessness in Lucas County. When the two organizations merged, they became Leading Families Home.

The building at 2283 Ashland Ave. became the administrative offices of Leading Families Home.

Before F.O.C.U.S. purchased the building, it was once a nursing home, making it perfect to convert into an emergency shelter.

On June 29, 2023, Beach House Ashland opened its doors to those facing homelessness in Lucas County. The grand opening ceremony was the culmination of years of hard work by Leading Families Home to create another emergency shelter for families and single women.

The grand opening kicked off on the front lawn of 2283 Ashland Ave., now called Beach House Ashland, with several members of the community in attendance, including LFH's Board of Directors, employees, supporters, and donors.

The emcee for the event was Jelani Maliik, a former Participant at Beach House Inc. on 915 Erie St. (a.k.a. Beach House Erie), the original emergency family shelter opened in 1921. Jelani resided at Beach House Erie as a child with his mother. Since then, he's become an entrepreneur and musical artist with his own label and several published albums. He shared his heartfelt and inspiring story with those gathered at Beach House Ashland's grand opening.

Notable guests who attended and spoke at Beach House Ashland's grand opening included Mike Hart, Executive Director of the Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board, Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson (D., Toledo), Jared Sherman, Congressional Assistant to Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Commissioner Pete Gerken, Chamber of Commerce representative Jeff Lonsbrough, Police Chief Michael Troendle and Officers, and Gina Shubeta of the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department, among others.

Leading Families Home is holding an Adopt-a-Room campaign for Beach House Ashland. Will you give a gift to help us provide more beds and services in northwest Ohio for those experiencing homelessness?

     $500 | Bathroom

  $1,000 | Bedroom

  $2,500 | Bike Rack

  $3,000 | Kids' Playroom

  $5,000 | Computer Room

$10,000 | Laundry Room

$10,000 | Cafeteria

$30,000 | Kitchen