Emergency Shelter
for Women & Children
Did you know?
During the 2023–2024 academic year, Ohio public and community schools reported 31,883 students experiencing homelessness, representing about 1.8% of the total student enrollment.
Learning Without Limits allows kids to overcome barriers to education. Your donations to this campaign provide school supplies, nutritious meals, healthcare, tutors, and a safe place to study, live and play.
Make an impact today.
Ways to Get Involved
Volunteer
Serve a meal, work our front desk, watch our youngest residents and so many more opportunities to make an impact!
Monthly Giving
With a waitlist of over 100 households a day, your support is essential in the fight to end homelessness for women and children.
Donate In-Kind Items
Donating essential items is critical in restoring confidence for the women and families we serve. Thank you for helping our residents feel their best.
About ACCESS
Our mission at ACCESS Shelter is to encourage women in the attainment of permanent housing by providing a supportive environment that includes programs of education, advocacy, and empowerment.
Our vision at ACCESS is to aspire to be a sustainable leader in thought and execution, working with our partners to drive innovation in addressing homelessness and striving for a community where all women and children feel stable and empowered.
History: ACCESS, Inc. was founded in 1984 in Akron, Ohio, to provide shelter for homeless women and children, addressing a critical shortage identified by a local survey. It opened its first shelter in a former convent and expanded in 1996 to a larger facility. A transitional housing program, Step II, was added in 1997 and phased out in 2020 as ACCESS refocused on emergency shelter services.
252
Total Served
15,615
Bed Nights Provided
Impact Made in 2025
Click here to view our 2025 Annual Report
139
Children Served
44,306
Meals Served
113
Women Served
69
Nights (average stay)
70%
of Residents Exited with Permanent Housing
237
Wellness Evaluations Provided
