Mary Magdalen House

What Mary Magdalen House does

Mary Magdalen House is a Cincinnati-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating continuously since 1988, providing free showers, laundry, mail and phone access, and resource navigation to adults experiencing homelessness in Greater Cincinnati. Its flagship drop-in facility at 1629 Republic Street in Over-the-Rhine is open six days a week and offers seven private showers for men and four for women, full laundry facilities, hygiene supplies (soap, shampoo, razors, toothbrushes, deodorant), public phone use, message taking, and mail services that allow guests to obtain state IDs and other documents. The organization does not restrict access by income, sobriety, or other criteria typical of shelters, and provides bus passes, long-term storage, care packages, and on-site referrals to housing, healthcare, and employment services.

The core service portfolio - Shower Services, Laundry Services, Phone & Mail Access, and Other Services - is delivered without underlying proprietary technology. Operations are staff- and volunteer-led; the platform architecture is essentially the physical facility plus a published Amazon Wishlist for in-kind donations. In 2024 MMH washed 3,386 loads of laundry and delivered a record 24,363 showers to 1,921 guests, with 2025 throughput extending to roughly 24,000 showers, 21,000+ hygiene and clothing items distributed, and 1,800+ guests served. A new product, the Dignity-Promoting Hair Care Fund, was launched in March 2025 with a $5,000 grant, expanding the product surface to texture-diverse hair care. MMH is also preparing MMH Goes Mobile for launch in 2026 - Greater Cincinnati's first Mobile Hygiene Program, a purpose-built vehicle with three ADA-accessible private bathrooms (toilets, sinks, showers), laundry units, and on-site resource navigation, expected to add 20-30 showers per day across Hamilton County and serve families for the first time.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed and MMH is donor-funded. Streams comprise individual donations via the website donation portal, corporate and foundation grants (Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trust, CMPC Presidents' Trust, Gardner Family Foundation), in-kind donations of clothing and hygiene products (Bombas, Hanes, community groups), and Amazon Wishlist fulfillment. Major grants toward the $500,000 Mobile Hygiene Program target include $395,000 raised to date, with the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trust as the lead donor. The operating model is community-led: word-of-mouth, volunteer networks, donor relationships, and strategic partnerships with local churches, the Hygiene Bank Association, St. Francis de Sales Parish, University of Cincinnati, Our Daily Bread, and St. Anthony Center sustain capacity. The organization carries no debt or parent company, is governed by a board led by Executive Director Jenny Perez, and faces an active real-estate transition as 3CDC acquires St. Anthony Center properties under the City of Cincinnati's Center of Care initiative, with MMH services continuing uninterrupted.

Name

Mary Magdalen House

Legal name

Mary Magdalen House

Website

https://marymagdalenhouse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mary Magdalen House is a Cincinnati-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating since 1988 that provides free showers, laundry, mail and phone access, and resource navigation to adults experiencing homelessness in Greater Cincinnati, with a mobile hygiene unit launching in 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Services / Nonprofit Personal Care Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Senior / Assisted-Living Wash-and-Fold Programs (HSAJABAG)

Keywords

• Homeless services
• Hygiene access
• Personal care services
• Laundry services
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute financially through one-time and recurring donations. The organization accepts monetary gifts via its website donation portal.
2. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations (e.g., Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trust, Gardner Family Foundation), corporate partners (e.g., Hanes, Kroger Community Rewards), and major donors.
3. In-Kind Donations: Receipt of physical goods including clothing, hygiene products, and other supplies from donors and corporate partners like Bombas, Hanes, and community groups.
4. Amazon Wishlist: Direct donations of specific items through Amazon Wishlist, allowing donors to purchase hygiene products and supplies that are most needed.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mary Magdalen House is a nonprofit hygiene drop-in center that provides free showers, laundry, toiletries, mail and phone access, and on-site resource navigation to adults experiencing homelessness in Greater Cincinnati. Services are delivered at its flagship Over-the-Rhine facility and are being extended via the upcoming MMH Goes Mobile unit into underserved neighborhoods across the region.

Product overview

Mary Magdalen House is a nonprofit hygiene drop-in center offering a unified set of personal care services to adults experiencing homelessness in Greater Cincinnati. The core service portfolio includes: Shower Services (11 private shower stalls with toiletries provided), Laundry Services (full wash/dry facilities), and Phone & Mail Access (public phone, mailboxes, address use for document acquisition). These services are complemented by Other Services such as bus passes, long-term storage, and care packages. The organization is also launching MMH Goes Mobile, a mobile hygiene unit program that will expand access to these same services—showers, laundry, and resource navigation—into neighborhoods throughout Greater Cincinnati via a specially equipped vehicle. The flagship facility at 1629 Republic Street provides approximately 100 showers daily, while the mobile unit (in launch phase) is expected to provide 20-30 additional showers per day.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shower Services Provides private shower facilities with seven showers for men and four for women, along with private toilets and vanities. Toiletries including soap, shampoo, razors, toothbrushes, combs, and deodorant are provided to guests at no cost. Service is available to adults experiencing homelessness with no eligibility barriers.
• Laundry Services Full laundry facilities operated by staff and volunteers, continuously running during operating hours. Guests may leave one set of personal laundry to be washed and available the next day. To use the laundry service, guests must first take a shower.
• Phone and Mail Access Public phone available for use, message-taking service, and mail services for registered guests. Guests can use the facility's address to receive mail and obtain state IDs and other important documents.
• Resource Navigation and Support Services Additional resources including bus passes, long-term storage, and care packages depending on eligibility. On-site coordinator (Resource Navigator) refers guests to housing, health, and other resources and provides support through the application processes.
• MMH Goes Mobile (Mobile Hygiene Unit) Mobile hygiene unit bringing showers, laundry, resource navigation, and compassionate care directly into Greater Cincinnati communities. Equipped with three private bathrooms with toilets, sinks, and showers, laundry units, ADA accessibility, and on-site resource navigation. Designed to serve families and children for the first time by removing transportation barriers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24,363 showers provided in 2024 (record high)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Hygiene Bank AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMMH is a member of the Hygiene Bank Association, representing 50+ organizations nationwide committed to advancing hygiene access. This membership provides access to trainings, shared data, and opportunities to learn about personal care needs at scale.
• St. Francis de Sales ParishcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing community partner that has hosted Brunch & Learn events featuring MMH. Received the Reverend Thomas Bokenkotter Social Justice Award for ongoing support. Has been supporting MMH since its Main Street location.
• University of CincinnaticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUC engineering students helped draft plans for the Mobile Hygiene Unit during the planning phase.
• HanescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner through HanesForGood program, providing clothing and hygiene products to help MMH promote dignity for unhoused individuals.
• BombassupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSock and clothing donations as part of MMH's Circle of Support corporate partners.
• Fleet FeetsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing support as part of MMH's Circle of Support.
• Zins PlumbingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal plumbing partner that installed a new water fountain to help guests during summer heat.
• KrogersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner through Kroger Community Rewards program, allowing shoppers to designate MMH as their reward recipient.
• Our Daily BreadsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit providing meals to guests who visit MMH, contributing to the holistic support ecosystem.
• Community of the Good ShepherdsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch community that has been making regular donations of clothing and personal care items to MMH since its Main Street location.
• St. Anthony CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFacility housing MMH's current location. During winter weather emergencies, coordinates with MMH to provide respite space for those needing shelter from the cold.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bethany House Services: Greater Cincinnati nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and support services to families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Direct regional peer addressing overlapping needs in the same Cincinnati service area.
• Lava Mae: San Francisco-based nonprofit that pioneered mobile shower and hygiene services for people experiencing homelessness. Direct peer to MMH Goes Mobile with an identical service model — purpose-built mobile hygiene vehicles serving unsheltered populations.
• Strategies to End Homelessness: Cincinnati's lead planning agency for homelessness, coordinating Continuum of Care programs across the metro. Operates in the same geography serving overlapping beneficiary populations and shares the regional funder ecosystem with MMH.
• Shelterhouse: Cincinnati-based nonprofit operating emergency shelters and supportive housing programs for men and women experiencing homelessness. Direct regional peer operating in MMH's same geography and serving overlapping client populations.

Broad incumbents

• People Assisting the Homeless (PATH): Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing housing, case management, and supportive services across multiple counties. A larger incumbent in the homeless services space with overlapping mission but broader service portfolio than MMH's hygiene-focused model.
• Depaul USA: National nonprofit operating housing programs and drop-in services for people experiencing homelessness across multiple U.S. cities. Larger incumbent with an overlapping service philosophy centered on dignity and access.
• St. Vincent de Paul Cincinnati: Cincinnati chapter of the national St. Vincent de Paul Society providing a broad range of poverty-relief services including food, housing, and case management. Operates in the same geography with overlapping donor base and a wider service portfolio than MMH.
• Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio: Regional Catholic Charities affiliate operating in Greater Cincinnati with broad social service programs including housing, food, and refugee services. A larger incumbent serving overlapping populations in the same metro.

Emerging players

• Showers of Blessing: Nonprofit operating mobile shower and hygiene services for people experiencing homelessness in multiple U.S. cities. Conceptually comparable to MMH Goes Mobile as a smaller-scaling entrant testing the mobile hygiene model in additional markets.

Regional players

• Our Daily Bread: Cincinnati-based nonprofit providing meals and support services to those experiencing poverty and homelessness. A current MMH partner that serves overlapping beneficiary populations at a complementary point in the service continuum.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MaryMagdalenHouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mary-magdalen-house
• Instagraminstagram.com/marymagdalenhouseotr

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mary Magdalen House