Akron Shelter Expands After Bezos Family Donation

ACCESS Shelter to grow by 80% with $1.25 million grant from Bezos Day 1 Families Fund

Jan. 27, 2026 at 2:15pm

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ACCESS Shelter in Akron, Ohio has received a $1.25 million grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund, founded by Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos. The shelter will use the funds to expand its footprint by 80% and provide more wraparound services to women and children in need of emergency housing.

Why it matters

The grant comes at a critical time, as ACCESS Shelter has a waitlist of over 100 households each night seeking emergency shelter in the Akron area. The expansion will allow the shelter to serve more of the community's most vulnerable residents.

The details

The $1.25 million grant will allow ACCESS Shelter to add two additional bedrooms to its existing 15-bedroom facility. The first phase of the shelter's capital campaign, which was put on hold due to funding constraints, can now move forward. This includes relocating the administrative offices to free up space for the new bedrooms. The second phase will add six more bedrooms, with two already completed. The five-year grant will also fund a third phase in 2027 to add a playroom, lounge spaces, bathrooms, laundry facilities, and expand dining and kitchen areas.

  • The capital campaign started in 2024 but was put on hold due to funding constraints.
  • The first two new bedrooms are already completed and in use.
  • An additional four bedrooms will be added later in 2026.
  • The third phase of expansion is planned for 2027.

The players

ACCESS Shelter

An emergency shelter serving women and children in the Greater Akron, Ohio area.

Jeff Bezos

The founder of Amazon and co-founder of the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund.

Lauren Sánchez Bezos

The wife of Jeff Bezos and co-founder of the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund.

Jackie Hemsworth

The executive director of ACCESS Shelter.

GPD Group

The Akron-based architectural firm that designed the shelter expansion.

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What they’re saying

“We are in crisis here in our community, and the need is dire. So, for the families who are looking for shelter, even one or two bedrooms is going to make a difference. Every little bit counts, and we are just pushing, pushing to do this as quickly as we can, but safely.”

— Jackie Hemsworth, Executive Director, ACCESS Shelter

“We are thankful to receive this five-year grant, but we need to make sure that what we are building is sustainable, so that we can be here for another 40 years in our community.”

— Jackie Hemsworth, Executive Director, ACCESS Shelter

What’s next

The shelter plans to complete the additional four bedrooms in the second phase of expansion later in 2026. The third phase of expansion, adding a playroom, lounge spaces, bathrooms, laundry facilities, and expanding dining and kitchen areas, is scheduled for 2027.

The takeaway

This grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund comes at a critical time for the Akron community, allowing the ACCESS Shelter to significantly expand its capacity to serve women and children in need of emergency housing. The shelter's focus on sustainability and wraparound services will help ensure the long-term impact of this investment.