Building for Tomorrow : Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority

Building for Tomorrow: Helping Families Thrive

The Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA) provides an essential service to 25,000 Summit County residents each year – helping them find a stable home they can afford. Putting a roof over our neighbors’ heads is the first important step in helping families thrive. While a safe, affordable home is important for our families, it is not enough.

Education matters! At Building for Tomorrow, the non-profit arm of AMHA, we believe in the resiliency, talent and perseverance of our families. We believe in meeting families where they are and using education as a tool to develop self-dependency, fulfill dreams, build confidence, and break down barriers to opportunity. Education is the equalizer: to open doors to skills that families need to not just survive, but thrive. We do this with the generous support of our many community partners, foundations, vendors, volunteers, individual donors and staff.

Our Current Priority Areas:

Early Childhood Education

Digital Literacy

Community Building

Health and Wellness

Financial Self Sufficiency

LEARN MORE

REACH HIGHER COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE AWARD NOMINATION

The Reach Higher Community Excellence Award is an award given to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to helping students reach their full potential and achieve excellence in education. The award is inspired by The Reach Higher initiative, which was launched by former First Lady Michelle Obama in 2014 the same year The Reach Opportunity Center was constructed, in an effort to inspire students to pursue and complete their education beyond high school.

Recipients of the award may include educators, counselors, mentors, volunteers, or community organizations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to supporting students in their academic pursuits. The award recognizes individuals or organizations that have gone above and beyond in their efforts to provide access to educational opportunities, remove barriers to success, and empower students to achieve their goals.

The Reach Higher Community Excellence Award may be presented at various levels, including local, regional, and national, and is galvanized by an Engraved Crystal Plaque of recognition. The award serves as a way to honor and celebrate the hard work and dedication of those who have made a positive impact on the lives of students and helped them reach their full potential.

Click Here for the Nomination Form

VOLUNTEER WITH US

Volunteers make up an important part of our program capacity. We could not do what we do without people like you. For more information about group and individual volunteering in AMHA buildings, contact Anna Buechele at abuechele@akronhousing.org.

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/3ebe8341c87e471fbcd78

Early Childhood Education

17% of 0-5 year olds in Summit County are in AMHA Housing. Our Early Childhood Initiative provides 2 home visitation programs that prepare kids for kindergarten, hold community events that encourage childhood development, facilitate maternal depression support groups, and make community referrals for our families with young children.

Community Building

BFT manages the Reach Opportunity Center at Summit Lake, a community learning center that hosts Headstart and APS classrooms, community classes, and more! We also hold community building events throughout our properties to facilitate stronger relationships, encourage community watch groups, and connect residents with community resources that help strengthen our neighborhoods.

Digital Literacy

Nationwide, only 54% of households in public housing have access to reliable high speed internet. AMHA’s ConnectHome Akron initiative bridges the digital divide by connecting residents with high speed internet access, low-cost digital devices, and digital literacy training. With more opportunities for digital literacy, our residents become better prepared for job searches, reaching educational goals, and participating in our increasingly digital world.

Health and Wellness

BFT addresses health disparities and social determinants of health for people in poverty & encourages healthy lifestyles by facilitating health and wellness events, exercise classes, community gardens, and contributing to nationwide health and housing initiatives.

Financial Self Sufficiency

BFT is committed to empowering AMHA residents to manage, save, and optimize their finances responsibly. We support two AMHA service coordination programs, hold regular financial empowerment events, and refer residents to external financial resources such as United Way's Financial Empowerment Center.

Building for Tomorrow

Our work is driven by individual donors who care deeply about Summit County. Your dollars go towards keeping our priority areas funded. It currently costs over 1.2 million dollars annually to provide BFT services to AMHA residents, and we couldn't do it without our amazing donors, volunteers, and residents.

To apply your donation to be used across programs, click here: