A referral is the first step! Project Rise wants to know about all families in Akron who are without a nighttime residence. A self-referral or a referral from school staff (or anyone!) will prompt our initial contact. Email projectrise@apslearns.org or call 330.761.2929 One of our intake specialists will connect with the family or student and assess for immediate needs. We will address barriers to education, such as school enrollment and transportation.
Our Families and students often need help connecting to Early Childhood Education or Childcare. Project Rise will assess the need and connect appropriately.
Head Start/Early Head Start: We can supply a homeless verification letter to Head Start and Early Head Start programs which can avoid a waiting list in most cases.
SPARK: We partner with SPARK, a home visit program to help get 3 and 4-year-olds Kindergarten ready.
Title XX: We can help connect with Summit County Jobs and Family Services and provide a Homeless Verification letter to allow for a 90-day childcare subsidy to look for employment.
Project Rise will address transportation needs. In our district, we would request van transportation for elementary or middle school students who do not live in a walk zone. High school students would receive a bus pass for use on public transportation. Alternative solutions for transportation needs include a parent contract, gas cards, or parent metro passes.
Each identified student in Akron Public Schools will have an academic advocate assigned who will track attendance and academic progress. The advocate will connect to needed support and will follow up after the initial intake to stay with the student for the remainder of the school year.
Project Rise will connect the family to the Central Intake and Rapid Rehousing programs, which will identify the housing assistance options. We partner with the Housing Hotline (330.615.0577) and can connect directly to a staff member to work around schedule conflicts.
Project Rise will refer to our many community resources for food and clothing. We can also address laundry needs in partnership with local laundry mats.
Project Rise partners with Community Legal Aid to address legal needs that have become a barrier to housing.
Project Rise employs an Academic Advocate who specialized in the unique needs of youth who are living without a guardian. She has in-person meetings and works on transition plans to support post-high school goals.
Project Rise will provide a connection to Akron Public Schools departments to ensure the students have access to all services as needed. We will help families navigate our large school system without barriers. For example translation, special education, enrollment, and after-school programming.
Project Rise will become a part of the team for families who are without housing. They are overwhelmed and having the support of Project Rise can ease their overall stress.