ACCESS Inc., an Akron homeless shelter for women and children, is participating in Giving Tuesday Nov. 28, and every dollar donated goes directly to helping women and children in the community. 

Giving Tuesday is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It is a day dedicated to non-profit organizations and opportunities for people to give back to their communities.

Participating in Giving Tuesday helps ACCESS  continue to provide support for those in need despite increasing costs. It also gives an emotional boost to the people who are in the shelter, according to Eric Alves, communications coordinator of ACCESS.

“When our residents see that support from complete strangers in the community, it gives them an emotional boost to continue on with their journey,” Alves said.

ACCESS opened its doors in 1984 after a survey conducted by the Catholic Commission showed there were not enough shelter beds for both women and children in the area. 

The shelter was named “ACCESS,” an acronym for Akron Citizens Coalition for Emergency Shelter Services. 

ACCESS’s mission is dedicated to helping women and children get permanent housing while providing a safe environment for them to call home in the meantime. 

The shelter is a low-barrier shelter, meaning they do not conduct background checks or drug screening on a resident. 

 “We meet each resident where they are on their journey,” Alves said. “It’s important for residents to know that we understand there are many barriers that lead to homelessness.”

This year, an anonymous donor agreed to match 100 nights in the shelter, Alves said. It costs $78 for one night in the shelter. This includes room and board, food costs and any programs they might participate in during their stay.

Some programs that are offered in the shelter are life skills, job preparation, and housing classes. 

The main goal of ACCESS is to help women and children find permanent homes and set them up for success in the next part of their journey, said Jackie Hemsworth, executive director of ACCESS.

“It really takes our whole community in order to support our organization,” Hemsworth said. “It’s important that we contribute to the wellbeing of each other and we should be looking out for each other. The people that come into our shelter are just like you and I.” 

People can donate to ACCESS on Giving Tuesday through their website.

If you are in a housing crisis, dial 211. Contact ACCESS Inc. at (330) 376-0997 or online.

Chloe Harich is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected]