CPOY

CPOY 73 Documentary Award of Excellence: Tent City, Akron, OH

Tents began to congregate behind the building at 15 Broad St., Akron, OH during the summer of 2016. Over the coming months, a few tents turned to a dozen. Then 25. Then over 40, until eventually roughly 50 of Akron's homeless population called 15 Broad St., or Tent City, as it is now known, home. Tent City's continued existence has led to a controversy with the city of Akron, with some Akron residents complaining about Tent City, and others rallying behind it. According to the US Census Bureau, 25.4% of Akron's population lives in poverty. Tent City has drawn attention to the rampant poverty and high rates of homelessness in Akron, and to the lack of effective solutions offered by the City of Akron.

Caption
Slide 2 of 12
May 3, 2018
Smoking a hand rolled cigarette inside his tent, Dwight recounts his life as an alcoholic. "I've been all over man. Just go panhandle around the bars. Being honest, tell them I want a beer. Get some beer, go back to the woods and get drunk. I'm past that now. Trying to get back on my feet here."
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