ASHLAND — A faith-based sheltering program in Ashland is working to grow into a new headquarters on Maple Street.
The Ashland Church Community Emergency Shelter Services (ACCESS) bought a building that formerly housed a daycare at 228 Maple St.
ACCESS has been renovating the inside of the building since early April. The plan is to convert the space into three temporary shelter units and the nonprofit’s new headquarters by later this year.
Units will be outfitted like efficiency apartments, said Sunny McCarty, the organization’s executive director.
McCarty said the new space will also allow ACCESS to grow its offerings to families in need. The building has room for additional classes for children. It also has a fenced-in backyard — a selling point for McCarty.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to grow our programs. We can put raised gardens in the back so residents can grow their own stuff, maybe even can (the food),” she said.
Housing options
The nonprofit currently operates out of its stately house at 508 Claremont Ave. The building houses temporary shelters, but will transition into a four-unit “Foundational Growth” shelter.
McCarty said a foundational growth shelter affords residents a chance to accumulate rental history for six months to a year by showing landlords they have the ability to pay.
By contrast, a temporary shelter gives people housing for up to 90 days and is financially covered through donors and grants.
When finished at the Maple Street house, ACCESS will have three temporary shelter units and five foundational growth units.
| 508 Claremont Ave. | 228 Maple St. | 211 Lee Ave. |
| 4 units (foundational growth) | 3 units (temporary shelter) | 1 unit (foundational growth) |
McCarty said ACCESS has been piloting the idea behind its foundational growth shelter for 18 months through its Lee Avenue house.
“In that time, we’ve been able to see the struggle,” she said.
For example, a single mother with children struggles to find permanent housing if she’s been in a temporary shelter for three months because prospective landlords look at rental history.
McCarty said often people would go through the 90-day program, try to find a place to live and fail.
“We don’t want to be a revolving door,” she said. The foundational growth program gives people the chance to show landlords they have the ability to pay.
ACCESS by the numbers
The need exists in Ashland, McCarty said.
In 2024, ACCESS received 339 calls for assistance — which included 173 adults and 140 children. The nonprofit was able to help 75 of them.
So far, this year, the organization has received 129 calls for service, including 53 children and 79 adults. They’ve been able to help 21.
A gap exists in service agencies like ACCESS to serve single men. McCarty acknowledged the dilemma. She hopes the future holds a solution — it’s a demographic ACCESS keeps track of.
There were 26 single men ACCESS wasn’t able to help last year. That number is 13 so far this year. McCarty and other ACCESS employees refer single men to other services in Mansfield and Wooster.
When the Maple Street property became available, McCarty said four donors stepped up to make the move possible. The house sold for $220,000, according to property records. That’s exactly how much ACCESS received from the four donors, McCarty said.
ACCESS has been able to raise funds for the rest — permits, demolition and construction.
“The community has been super supportive in all of this, which has been really nice,” she said.
The Maple Street site will not be able to accommodate homeless single men — only men with children in the home. Single women, women with children and families will qualify for service there.
Those in need of temporary or semi-temporary shelter from ACCESS can visit online or in person Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.