AKRON, Ohio – The ACCESS Women and Children’s Emergency Shelter, which provides emergency shelter and support services for women and children experiencing homelessness in Summit County, has received a $1.25 million grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund.
Through the fund, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and wife Lauren Sánchez Bezos issue annual awards to organizations helping families experiencing homelessness. ACCESS Shelter is one of 32 organizations nationwide to receive an award this year, according to a news release.
“It is truly an honor to receive such a future-changing grant from the Day 1 Families Fund. ACCESS is eager to work over the next five years to serve more families in our community in urgent need of emergency shelter,” ACCESS Executive Director Jackie Hemsworth said in the release.
ACCESS plans to use the one-time grant over the next five years to increase the availability of shelter beds, wraparound services and pathways to permanent housing for women and children in Summit County, according to the release.
ACCESS Shelter was selected to receive the grant by a group of national advisors who are experienced in housing policy and solutions to homelessness, according to the release.
The Day 1 Families Fund was founded in 2018. Since its inception, the fund has awarded 280 grants totaling more than $850 million to organizations serving families throughout the U.S.
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