Council Seeks To Help Homeless

Akron City Council is looking to see the city provide more funding for homeless shelters in the midst of the current economic crisis.

Akron City Councilwoman Terry Albanese says the plan will take about four years to take shape. "We voted on the 2010 Consolidated Action Plan as well as the four year plan beginning in 2010 and going into 2014."

Both plans are designed to provide additional funding for building new shelters across Akron.

The city currently has $9 million for programs involving housing and emergency shelters. Albanese knows that with the current economic climate, more funding is needed to house Akron's homeless.

"For the emergency shelter, we get $300,000, and that amount has not been increased in about 10 years,so that is one of the dilemmas we face as there has become an increasing need for emergency shelters," Albanese explains.

Albanese says she is optimistic that more funding for homeless shelters could be coming. "We have a plan that is supposed to run four years, so in that time, it's possible that proposals can be brought to Council and more funds can be thrown in that direction