Our Story

For over 18 years, founder Karla McDay, a Licensed Independent Social Worker, dedicated her career to the child welfare system, where she witnessed firsthand the systemic issues, flaws, injustices, and inadequacies affecting vulnerable youth. Motivated to make a meaningful difference, she partnered with co-founders Anthony Grimes and Dr. Lisa Workman to address the needs of young people transitioning out of foster care or experiencing housing insecurity.

In 2014, Harmony House opened its first emergency shelter in East Akron, offering four beds of shared living. Since then, it has grown exponentially to provide over sixty beds through a diverse range of housing solutions, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and rapid rehousing programs.

Harmony House is committed to ending youth homelessness by offering not only safe and stable housing but also ongoing support, employment assistance, and supplemental services. Our programs are designed to empower homeless young adults, ages 18 to 24, residing in Summit County, as they navigate the challenging transition from dependency to self-sufficiency.

Our mission is to help young adults achieve self-sufficiency, secure employment, pursue educational opportunities, access vital community resources, and ultimately find permanent, stable housing. At Harmony House, we are dedicated to restoring lives and building futures, one young adult at a time.

"Traditionally, upon graduation, youth were faced with four distinct paths, identified by the four 'E's: Enlist in the military, Enroll in college, Engage to marry, or Employ entering the workforce. These were the conventional routes marking the transition to adulthood. Today, however, many youth need a fifth 'E' an Extension—especially as they navigate the complexities of adulthood. This stage of development has become increasingly challenging due to economic pressures, including the rising cost of affordable housing and an uncertain job market. For many young adults, securing stable housing has become a significant obstacle, with limited options that balance independence and support. The cost of living continues to escalate, while wages fail to keep pace, making access to housing and other basic needs more elusive. In this context, we offer creative housing options, designed to allow young people who are housing insecure to regain stability. It is vital to provide these young adults with the tools, resources, and time needed to navigate this critical phase and find their own path forward, offering an essential Extension to traditional paths." – Karla McDay