Emergency Shelter
for Women & Children
What keeps families moving forward isn't always something you can put in a donation bin.
Fresh linen. Welcome bags for new residents. Childcare. Prescription copays. Housing application fees. Bus passes for doctor appointments. Gas to get to a job interview. Haircuts. Packed lunch for school and work. These are all the small costs that many don’t think about when considering giving back to a local emergency shelter. We have the essentials–monthly donors cover the costs that lead our residents to stability, and it costs less than your daily coffee or snack. Also, the first six months of your monthly generosity is being DOUBLED by an anonymous donor.
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
