AKRON, Ohio - In just five months, the Naomi Project site has gone from a pile of dirt to a home for eight new residents.

The new occupants are all participants in CSS’ Tent to House program, which seeks to move homeless individuals into permanent housing. The move into the new facility wasn’t just a happy occasion for the new residents; it also was very gratifying for our Homeless Outreach team for two reasons – the team housed all eight in one day, and it was the result of years of work.

“It was super challenging getting them all here for lease signing (on the same day), but they made it happen,” said Homeless Outreach Supervisor Michael Harhager. “These were some of the most-challenging individuals that we have been working with to date. Some have been outside for over three years, others struggling with severe mental health and substance use.”

The Naomi Project is one of 45 units of scattered-site supportive housing being developed in the county as New Frontier Homes. The project is a collaboration between CSS, the City of Akron, Summit County Land Bank, Family & Community Services, Joanna House II and Tober Building Co.

In addition to housing the eight at the Naomi Project in a single day, the Homeless Outreach team housed two other clients through another rapid rehousing program that same day, bringing the count to 10 individuals homed by the outreach team in one day!