![Second Chance VIllage founder Sage Lewis talks with a film crew about the future [Tim Rudell / WKSU]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5ae5c71/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1280x552+0+0/resize/840x362!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F9%2F24%2Fsecond_chance_sage_lewis_with_film_crew_and_tents%20Rudell.jpg)
By Tim Rudell, WKSU
Since Akron city council voted not to allow a zoning variance for Second Chance Village, local realtor and auctioneer Sage Lewis, who sponsored the camp has been looking for an alternative. He has an idea on another way to help people who have nowhere to live.
"The easiest place to house people is a house. And we have a lot of 'em. So that's where I'm really focused. It's trying to get houses," said Lewis. "We've got one. I'm hoping we can work something out with the land bank. Get a few more. And get these people in there."
Lewis says Akron tears down about 300 vacant houses annually. He believes if ten of those each year were to be rehabilitated the city's homeless problem could be largely solved.
