Our Locations

The Front Porch

The Front Porch is a vision of South Street Ministries and is in partnership with the Akron Leadership Foundation, Faithful Servants Care Center, and various community groups. Originally a Croatian-American social club, the building donated to South Street Ministries in 2008.

From there, after various dreaming sessions, a vibrant café was born, and after years of renovations (with community support), Faithful Servants Care Center and the Akron Leadership Foundation moved in as collaborative partners.

Today, The Front Porch at 798 Grant St. serves many in the South Akron and Greater Akron community with a café, walk-in clinic, reentry support services, leadership development trainings, recovery meetings, and community building. Together, it’s our vision to embody a reality of hope for the community through authentic relationships.

Restoration House

Historically, 801 Grant Street served a variety of functions including men’s reentry housing, South Street Ministries administrative offices, staff housing, placemaking services, and offices for World Relief in Akron.

South Street Ministries in partnership with Nazareth Housing is currently renovating 801 Grant Street to serve as Restoration House. Restoration House will be transitional housing for justice-involved women providing additional programmatic support in their Re-entry-Restored-Restoration journey. Reentry Services house manager, case managers, and volunteers will provide residents supportive programming including mental health, substance disorder, art therapy, self-care, etc… in addition to regular Reentry Services. Part of the vision of the house is to support mothers with family reunification by allowing their children to stay in a special hotel-like room on a rotating weekend basis.

Miller Ave

Originally the Miller Avenue United Church of Christ, this church and parsonage has served the Summit Lake community for decades as a gathering place for many.

Presently, the Miller Avenue church is the home to South Street Ministries’ RICH KIDS Enrichment programming, Let’s Grow Akron canning classes and programming, the Front Porch Fellowship, and an annual block party.

Located around the church are a few community houses where South Street staff, friends, and volunteers live intentionally as neighbors.

130 W. South St.

The birthplace of South Street Ministries, 130 W. South Street is the home of co-founders Duane and Lisa Crabbs.

Over the years, 130 W. South has been the home of after-school, garden programming, Bike Shop, and Bible studies, and has been a place of peace and gathering for youth in the neighborhood as the Crabb’s served those around them.

Today, most youth programming has moved to Miller Avenue, and Bike Shop has moved to 9 Plato Lane in Akron.

Discipleship House

The Discipleship House Fellowship is a 9 month commitment to a discipleship journey modeled around community living, service, and learning. The DHF is a program of South Street Ministries. Fellows will serve in various areas of the ministry and within the community. Fellows will also receive learning through DHF’s Applied Theology Sessions, participation in the Kingdom Leadership Alliance – School of Urban Leadership, as well as many other learning opportunities. The Discipleship House is located in Summit Lake, and will be connected to and serving primarily in the Summit Lake neighborhood.