For people with no address, even a few hundred dollars for a security deposit can feel out of reach, and that’s where Toledo’s Off the Streets program steps in.

The Toledo chapter of Off the Streets, a nonprofit dedicated to helping homeless individuals secure permanent housing, has earned the Knights of Columbus’ top international honor for community service — the first time a Toledo-area council has received the prestigious award.

The recognition, presented at the Knights of Columbus’ 143rd Supreme Convention in the nation’s capital, named the program International Community Program of the Year. The annual awards competition draws entries from every U.S. state and about a dozen foreign countries.

Ed Irelan, justice ministry coordinator with Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Toledo

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