FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AKRON, OH — October 28, 2026 — The Summit County Continuum of Care (SCCoC) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the FirstEnergy Foundation through its 2026 Shelter, Safety and Stability initiative.
The grant will support the Summit County Continuum of Care’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the community’s response to homelessness and help ensure individuals and families experiencing housing instability have access to critical resources and services.
“We are extremely grateful to the FirstEnergy Foundation for this generous investment in the Summit County Continuum of Care and the people we serve,” said Christopher J. Richardson, Executive Director of the Summit County Continuum of Care. “Partnerships like this allow us to respond to emerging needs, strengthen our community’s homeless response system, and continue working collaboratively toward stable housing for individuals and families throughout Summit County.”
The Summit County Continuum of Care coordinates a community-wide network of organizations, housing providers, governmental partners, and community stakeholders working together to prevent and end homelessness. The CoC serves as the federally designated planning and coordination body for the Akron-Barberton-Summit County Continuum of Care.
The $20,000 FirstEnergy Foundation grant will provide additional resources to support the CoC’s crisis-response efforts and its continued work with community partners to address housing instability and homelessness.
“We recognize that addressing homelessness requires strong partnerships across the community,” Richardson said. “The FirstEnergy Foundation’s support demonstrates the important role that corporate and philanthropic partners play in helping our community respond to crisis and create opportunities for housing stability.”
The Summit County Continuum of Care extends its appreciation to the FirstEnergy Foundation for its commitment to Summit County and for investing in the organizations working to address critical community needs.
About the Summit County Continuum of Care (OH-506)
The Summit County Continuum of Care (SCCoC) is the federally designated Continuum of Care for Summit County and serves as the collaborative planning and coordination body for the community’s response to homelessness. The SCCoC brings together nonprofit organizations, government agencies, housing providers, healthcare and behavioral health organizations, businesses, and community stakeholders to coordinate resources and develop strategies to prevent and end homelessness.
About the FirstEnergy Foundation
The FirstEnergy Foundation supports 501(c)(3) organizations across FirstEnergy’s operational area, helping them build capacity, strengthen outcomes and deliver lasting impact. Giving priorities include housing stability, hunger relief, workforce development and STEM initiatives that reflect community needs and the company’s strategic focus. Including the Shelter, Safety and Stability initiative, the Foundation has distributed more than $6.5 million in community support across FirstEnergy’s service area to date in 2026.
Media Contact
Christopher J. Richardson
Executive Director
Summit County Continuum of Care
23 S. Main St., Suite 302
Akron, Ohio 44308
234-312-0833 ext. 101