A Hoarding Alliance local resource guide
You can begin with one concern that matters today. You do not have to sort everything out before asking for information or support.
Start here - Fight the Blight
Fight the Blight is a nonprofit starting point for hoarding-related support and virtual peer groups. People in Ohio can contact the organization to ask about current group access, program fit, and eligibility; grant-funded help is not guaranteed. This is not emergency response or clinical treatment. If you are unsure where to begin locally, Fairfield County 2-1-1 can help identify current independent options, but a referral is not a guarantee of service. You deserve respectful support without shame. Start with a conversation that feels manageable, ask what is available and what it costs, and keep the choices that feel right to you.
For immediate danger, fire, or urgent medical help, call 911. For emotional crisis support, call or text 988, or call Fairfield County's crisis line at 740-687-8255 or text 4hope to 741741. The ADAMH Board's general inquiry form is not monitored 24/7. STARLight is a voluntary adult residential crisis-stabilization program; call to ask about screening, availability, coverage, and cost. Listings are independent options, not endorsements; availability and terms change. Older provider directories may be out of date: New Horizons Mental Health Services announced it stopped operating in 2026, so confirm the active provider roster with ADAMH before relying on an older listing.
First conversations
You do not need to know the perfect service name before reaching out. These organizations can help you understand the landscape and identify a next step.
The Peer Tree is a private-pay pathway when grant-funded help is not available or does not fit. Confirm service area, scope, availability, and cost before making plans.
Unburied offers digital peer support for people directly affected and the people who care about them. It is not therapy or emergency support and does not replace professional care.
Call 2-1-1 or 740-687-0500 to ask about local food, housing, transportation, utility, and support options. The call center lists weekday hours of 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; the website says help is available by dialing 2-1-1, so confirm current after-hours routing. Walk-in hours are listed as weekdays 9 a.m.–4 p.m. at 108 W. Main St., Suite C, Lancaster.
Safety and stability
These pathways serve different situations. Read the labels carefully before calling, especially when a response may involve crisis care, protective services, shelter, housing rules, legal advocacy, or emergency dispatch.
Call 911 for immediate danger, fire, or urgent medical help. Do not use email, code-enforcement forms, or a non-emergency resource to request an urgent response.
Call or text 988 for emotional crisis support. If there is immediate danger, a fire, or urgent medical need, call 911.
Fairfield County ADAMH directs people in crisis to call 740-687-8255 or text 4hope to 741741. Its general inquiry form is not monitored 24/7; use a live crisis line, not the web form, for urgent emotional distress.
OhioGuidestone operates this residential program at 336 E. Locust St., Lancaster. The current ADAMH page describes a voluntary program for adults; call 740-672-3855 before traveling to ask about referral steps, current openings, and payment or coverage. Call 911 for immediate danger.
The main emergency department is at 401 N. Ewing St., Lancaster; the River Valley Campus emergency department at 2384 N. Memorial Dr. is listed as open 24/7. The hospital says its crisis-intervention team is available 24/7 and helps regardless of insurance or ability to pay; this does not mean all care is free. Call 911 when emergency transport is needed.
For people affected by domestic violence or sexual assault, The Lighthouse lists confidential support and a 24-hour line. Call before traveling; its shelter address is intentionally not published here. If a device or call history may be monitored, consider a safer phone. Call 911 for immediate danger.
The clinic lists behavioral-health clinicians and navigators at 220 E. Walnut St., Lancaster. Call 740-277-6043 to ask about scheduling and the sliding-fee application. For a crisis, use 988 or the county crisis line; call 911 for immediate physical danger.
For a possible accidental ingestion or exposure, call 1-800-222-1222 and follow the specialist's instructions. Do not wait for an online reply in an emergency.
The health department lists environmental-health and community-prevention services from 1550 Sheridan Drive, Lancaster. Ask which department handles a specific concern and whether an inspection or fee applies; call 911 for urgent danger.
Fairfield County Job and Family Services says APS serves adults 60 and older at risk of abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation; competent adults may refuse services. Call 740-652-7887 during weekdays; after-hours on-call contact is through the sheriff at 740-652-7900. Use this only for a genuine protective-services concern, not as a routine referral for clutter.
The city describes its code-enforcement process for property-maintenance concerns. Confirm whether an address is within city limits and ask what the process means before submitting a complaint; an inspection may lead to requirements and does not guarantee a particular outcome. For immediate danger, call 911.
People and practical help
These listings connect the local community with housing, food, behavioral health, benefits, transit, survivor advocacy, disability support, peer support, and practical resources. Ask about current availability, cost, scope, consent, and safety before relying on them.
Contact the Board at 108 W. Main St., Suite A, Lancaster, to ask for a current provider or support option. Because some older network pages still show agencies that have since ceased operations, confirm that a named program is currently accepting people before relying on a directory entry. For crisis use the phone/text lines on the contact page, not its web form.
FCHC is at 220 E. Walnut St., Lancaster. Its site lists weekday and Saturday hours that vary by service; call 740-277-6043 to confirm the current schedule, appointment availability, pharmacy access, and sliding-scale documentation before visiting.
FCHC says its sliding-fee scale is available to patients regardless of insurance status, employment status, or ability to pay. The posted income chart is dated 2024; call the clinic to confirm the current chart, application steps, and accepted income documents instead of assuming an exact discount.
New Horizons' current notice says it stopped operations and that active client records were transferred to OhioGuidestone after notice to clients. Former clients can contact OhioGuidestone at 740-687-0835 for next steps. This is a transition notice, not confirmation that all programs, appointments, or clinicians transferred unchanged.
Financial representatives can discuss insurance, applications, and payment options. The hospital says applications must be mailed or delivered in person, not emailed. Call 1-866-826-9815 or visit the financial-services desk at 401 N. Ewing St., Lancaster; ask whether the specific bill and service qualify.
Apply online, by phone, mail, drop box, or in person through Fairfield County JFS at 239 W. Main St., Lancaster. The agency lists phone application hours Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m., and office hours 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Eligibility is individualized; ask the agency which verification documents are needed.
Use the state portal to apply for or manage SNAP, cash, and medical-assistance cases. A submitted application is not approval; contact the administering agency about documents, deadlines, and case-specific questions.
The agency's pantry page lists appointments and choice or prepacked food distributions on different weekdays at 1743 E. Main St., Lancaster. Check the current page or call 740-653-4146 for the schedule, required documents, and availability before traveling.
Community Action lists several home-energy programs. Contact the agency before relying on a program name from an old flyer; ask what is open now, which utility bills or repairs qualify, and what documentation is required.
Lancaster-Fairfield Community Action administers the county Community Housing Impact and Preservation program, which can assist eligible residents with repairs that support health, safety, and energy efficiency. Ask whether applications are being accepted and whether the proposed work qualifies.
The program lists assessments for potential lead, radon, mold, and asbestos hazards, with households including children, older adults, or people with disabilities prioritized. Contact Community Action to check income limits, participation by landlords where applicable, and whether the concern fits the program.
Lancaster-Fairfield Community Action describes a HUD-funded program for qualifying older residents to improve safety and accessibility. Call to confirm current funding and whether a requested modification is covered.
The current March 2026 schedule lists weekday Lancaster lines and other county routes. Exact change is required for cash fares; some stops require advance requests. Check the current route and schedule, or call 740-681-5086, before planning an appointment trip.
Call reservations Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., at 740-681-5086. Requests may be placed up to 14 days in advance; same-day rides depend on capacity and can cost more. Confirm current fares, pickup area, mobility eligibility, and trip purpose before arranging a ride.
The LINK lists a non-emergency medical transportation program. Call 740-652-7682 to ask about enrollment and trip scheduling; call 911 for emergency transport.
The Senior Hub lists weekday meal delivery, some evening or weekend options for qualifying people, and community dining locations. Call 740-681-5050 to ask about an assessment, delivery area, current menus, meal options, cost-sharing, and availability.
The Senior Hub describes caregiver support that can connect families with respite, equipment, minor home modifications, meals, and education. Call 740-681-5050 to learn what is currently offered and whether an assessment is needed.
The agency lists options that may include homemaking, personal care, adaptive equipment, caregiver help, transportation, and Medicare or benefits information. Start with its intake process and ask what is funded, what may cost extra, and how soon an assessment is available.
Olivedale lists activities and services for older adults at 253 Boving Road, Lancaster. Call before visiting to confirm current hours, transportation, program availability, and any cost.
The Main Library is at 219 N. Broad St., Lancaster. The library lists public computers, internet, printing, local information, and programming. Check current branch hours and ask about accessibility, card requirements, and fees for specific services.
Fairfield DD describes lifelong disability eligibility beginning before age 22 and an intake process. The agency can explain whether a person may qualify and what records are useful; do not assume a diagnosis or eligibility from this general description.
The Commission helps eligible veterans and dependents navigate benefits and may consider emergency financial assistance under its criteria. Call 740-652-7920 or visit 1550 Sheridan Drive, Suite 301, Lancaster, to confirm documents and current office schedule.
The county workforce center is listed at the Fairfield County Job and Family Services building, 239 W. Main St., Lancaster. Call 740-652-7856 to confirm current services, appointments, training eligibility, and office location before visiting.
LASCO handles civil legal matters for people who meet its current eligibility and case criteria. Contact intake to ask about housing, benefits, debt, or other civil issues; confirm any deadline and whether the organization can assist with the specific matter.
Use the official statewide portal to learn about common civil legal topics and find possible next steps. For advice about a specific case, contact a licensed attorney or legal-aid intake service.
The authority lists housing programs in Lancaster and the county, but a program webpage is not proof that an application list is open. Contact the office at 315 N. Columbus St., Lancaster, to confirm current applications, eligibility, documents, and wait times. For immediate housing referrals, call 2-1-1.
The city's sanitation page provides an address-based collection lookup and department contact. Check current season dates and accepted materials before setting items out; city collection is not a promise to remove household contents beyond its rules.
The city's FAQ says appliances, tires without rims, and bulk items may be handled through a fee-based pickup or the transfer station. Call Sanitation, option 2, to verify what is accepted, rates, and scheduling before moving items.
The agency currently lists its recycling center at 1761 E. Main St., Lancaster, open weekdays 9 a.m.–2 p.m. for buyback and drive-through drop-off. Check its linked recycling guide for accepted materials and call before bringing unusual, bulky, or potentially hazardous items.
The department lists immunization, WIC, environmental-health, and prevention functions at 1550 Sheridan Drive, Lancaster. Call 740-652-2800 to identify the right program and current hours before visiting.
Use Ohio Benefits to apply or manage a case and the Ohio Department of Medicaid website for program and managed-care information. If already enrolled, ask the plan about covered services, behavioral-health access, and non-emergency transportation.
The local 2-1-1 policy explains confidentiality, dignity, anonymous calling when possible, and the right to decline a referral. Ask the staff member how information is used before sharing details about a sensitive situation.
A low-pressure public-space option for time outside the home. Check current park rules, accessibility, and any facility or program charges before making plans.
A note from the Alliance
This guide is anchored in Lancaster, Ohio, and includes city, county, state, nonprofit, national, and independent pathways. A listing here does not mean Fight the Blight endorses every provider or can guarantee availability. The Hoarding Alliance is not a city or county agency, therapy practice, emergency service, or cleanup company. We will keep reviewing this page, but please confirm details directly before relying on them.
Need help choosing a path? Contact Fight the Blight