Helping Homeless Akron Families

A first of its kind program in Ohio is helping single-parent homeless families in Akron get off their feet and onto the road in their own car.

HM Life, a non-profit organization on West Market Street, has received a $14,000 grant, through the Women's Endowment Fund, to help single parent, homeless families get around -- it's called Mobile Moms.

"Our goal is to provide used vehicles to our homeless, single-parent families. Many people don't realize how challenging it can be to not have independent transportation and to be dependent on the bus. We have families right now who are spending three hours or more a day just on transit," says Program Director Melissa Flinn.

The drivers are responsible for getting their own insurance. So far, six used cars have been purchased with the funds. Each vehicle gets a complete inspection to make sure it's safe for the client.

There are some qualifications: a client has to be working or in school at least 20 hours a week, have a budget that shows they can afford gas, oil changes and insurance and have a valid driver's license.

Once they're finished with the program, they get to keep the car. Families can only be with the program for two years.

HM Life hopes to get people to donate their used cars, which is a tax write off.

The organization provides transitional housing for homeless with an 82% success rate. "Success is a family able to leave our program and obtain permanent housing by the end of their stay with us and be stable and not return to homelessness," says Flinn.

HM Life has 29 families in their program currently. Over the years, they've acquired several apartments, totaling 36, in safe parts of town, for qualifying families. And with safety being a top concern to many, there are restrictions for those families in the HM Life program. Sleep overs are not allowed, when a client moves in, they're required to give a list of potential visitors. The buildings are also monitored by surveillance. Guests must be off the premises by 11:00 p.m. and guests with felony convictions are not allowed on the property. "The safety of our single parents and children are a priority for us," explains Flinn, the goal is to help homeless families get on their feet "so nobody is allowed to move-in with them either."

However, HM Life will accept a client who's a convicted felon as long as the person did not have a violent or sex offense in the last five years.