Our Story
Second Chance Village started as a tent community in Akron. People experiencing homelessness who came together because nobody else was coming for them. That survival turned into a mission. Today we’re a nonprofit running peer support, street outreach, a mental martial arts dojo, and stabilization services across Akron and Summit County.
Our Mission
We exist to bring supplies, support, solutions, wellness and relief to trauma survivors facing and recovering from homelessness.
Our Vision
A community where people have what they need to look out for each other and build something worth being part of.
What We Do
- Peer Support & Recovery: Trauma-informed peer specialists with lived experience guide others through recovery
- Housing Navigation: Connecting people with shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing
- Harm Reduction: Non-judgmental support and connections to local harm-reduction resources
- Crisis Support: Peer support through hard moments, with connections to emergency and crisis services when needed
- Mental Martial Arts: Emotional regulation and mindfulness training
- Mobile Peer Support Club: Art, games, sharing circles, and peer support brought to parks, community spaces, and local events
- Arts Initiative: Creative recovery through music, visual art, writing, theatre, and puppetry
- Community Education: Sharing a lived-experience perspective with community members and partner organizations
Our Team
Second Chance Village is led by people who’ve been through it: peer specialists and advocates who know homelessness, addiction, and trauma because they survived it. That lived experience isn’t a footnote. It’s the foundation.
Partners & Supporters
We also work with healthcare providers, churches, businesses, and community organizations to get things done.
Akron Community Foundation has supported our work through competitive program grants and a $2,500 Capital Fund award toward an outreach vehicle.
Governance & Accountability
Second Chance Village is governed by a three-member Board of Directors that oversees the organization’s finances, operations, and strategic direction. Board members receive no compensation for their board service. The Board approves major financial decisions, compensation, and organizational policies. Our board members were chosen for their lived experience of homelessness, trauma, and recovery.
Board of Directors
- Ryan A. Scanlon, Founder and Director
- Raven, Women’s Crisis Respite Lead
- Dickweed, Lived Experience Advisor
Ryan Scanlon also serves as the organization’s Director and Peer Support Specialist.
Second Chance Village is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. All donations, sponsorships, and program fees are used exclusively to deliver charitable programming. No revenue is distributed to officers, directors, or private individuals. Financial information is available through our GuideStar/Candid profile.