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Akron's Tent City's homeless gather one last time, forced to leave by Thanksgiving

Posted at 12:00 AM, Nov 11, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-11 00:00:11-05

Folks without a home in Akron's Tent City gathered for a compassion cookout Saturday night before they are forced to leave the area.

In September, City Council voted to close down Tent City, forcing everyone out by Thanksgiving.

“Without this place, what are they going to do? Where are they going to go," said Robin Swan, a homeless man who has called the place home for two years.

Swan moved to Tent City after losing his wife and all of his possessions in a house fire.

To show support for those out in the cold, hunkered in tents, local artist Loren Naji slept outside for a night in his handmade, ornate ball.

“I know that they can’t stay here forever, but in the middle of this weather to say out by Thanksgiving," Naji asked.

The deadline for folks to be out is November 22, Thanksgivings Day.