After months of searching, ACCESS Shelter, Northeast Ohio’s homeless shelter for women and children, has named Jackie Hemsworth its next executive director.
Previously, Hemsworth was the director of Advancement and has been the acting interim executive director since February. ACCESS’ previous executive director, Lynn Budnick, passed on Feb. 13, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Hemsworth has been with the organization for four years and has more than 15 years of experience working in homeless service provision. She spent time providing direct services and then moved to developing and managing supportive housing programs for homeless individuals in Summit County.
In her previous role at ACCESS, Hemsworth was responsible for overseeing the fundraising efforts of federal and local grants, events, and private donations.
“I believe strongly in the mission of ACCESS to empower homeless women to take control of their futures,” said Hemsworth. “It’s an honor to hold this position, and I’m thrilled by the opportunity and challenges ahead. I look forward to working with our incredible team as we support ACCESS families and women with the time and opportunities they need to start their next chapter.”
Since 1984, more than 20,000 homeless women and children have been served by ACCESS.
The staff at the shelter provides safe housing but also encourage the development of self-esteem while working on self-sufficiency through its holistic and supportive programming. For info, visit access-shelter.org.
