Big plans are underway for the Alphonso Turner Homeless Outreach Center in 2016.  Funding is nearly secured for a new Homeless Intake and Drop-In Center at 111 E. Voris Street in Akron.  Our current location, at 640 Wolf Ledges in Akron, has been in use by Community Support Services for nearly 20 years.  Once construction is finalized, the new location will grow to nearly 4,600 square feet from the existing 1,500. 

The new location will offer separate stations for laundry, unisex shower stalls, and restrooms.   The new space will double the current capacity for showers and laundry which will greatly benefit the individuals who use the space as these are two critical areas. In addition to more spacious and inviting accommodations for those we serve, there will also be 3 private interview rooms and workstations for other community service providers. 

Homeless Outreach will continue to partner with Info-Line to further galvanize centralized intake in order to to quickly and efficiently link individuals with the services that are most appropriate for them.  Our current Homeless Outreach has programs to serve individuals who are homeless and have a severe and persistent mental illness (PATH), homeless veterans (SSVF), and the chronically homeless (CABHI). It has become increasingly clear through the past few years of the need for a facility to adequately accommodate our growing range of services.

The new location, 111 E. Voris Street, centralizes homeless services under one roof.  The VA’s Community Resource and Referral Center (CRCC) is located on the north side of the building, Family Promise of Summit County and their services for homeless families occupies the south side, and the Community Services Homeless Outreach and InfoLine Centralized Intake Services will be located between these two providers. This linkage of homeless services will create a truly one-stop shop for homeless services in Summit County.