COMMUNITY COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS
701 17TH AVENUE WEST, BRADENTON, FL 34205 tpmanatee.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE MISSION OF TURNING POINTS IS TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS IN MANATEE COUNTY BY PROVIDING, COORDINATING, AND FACILITATING SERVICES TO MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN WHO ARE HOMELESS OR ARE AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS. WE DO THIS THROUGH OUR FOUR PROGRAMS AT THE ONE STOP CENTER.

THE MEDICAL/DENTAL CLINICS OPERATED BY TURNING POINTS PROVIDES FREE MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND PHARMACY SERVICES TO UNINSURED RESIDENTS OF MANATEE COUNTY. DESPITE GLOBAL SHUTDOWNS DUE TO COVID-19, WE REMAINED OPEN FOR SERVICES. THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO IMPROVE MEDICAL AND DENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR MORE THAN 2400 CLIENTS DURING 8,515 CLIENT VISITS TO THE CLINIC. OF THESE, 696 CLIENTS WERE SERVED IN THE MEDICAL CLINIC WHILE 1,739 CLIENTS WERE SERVED IN THE DENTAL CLINIC. LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS DONATED $959,238.00 WORTH OF CARE IN BOTH CLINICS, WHILE THE VALUE OF IN KIND DONATIONS FOR THE MEDICAL AND DENTAL CLINIC FOR USE IN TAKING CARE OF CLIENTS WAS $2,443,041.00ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL NEEDS IN OUR COUNTY IS ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE. EVEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR DENTAL CARE HAVE DIFFICULTY FINDING A PROVIDER WHO WILL SEE THEM, SINCE REIMBURSEMENT RATES ARE SO LOW. OUR LOW INCOME, UNINSURED POPULATION IS THE PRIORITY TARGET POPULATION OF OUR CLINIC, ALONG WITH THOSE WHO ARE CONSIDERED LITERALLY HOMELESS. SINCE WE ARE THE ONLY PROVIDER OFFERING FREE DENTAL SERVICES IN THE COUNTY, WE GET REFERRALS FROM LOCAL PHYSICIAN OFFICES AS WELL AS FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOMS OF HOSPITALS WHERE PEOPLE WITH A TOOTHACHE SEEM TO GO WHEN THEY HAVE NO DENTAL INSURANCE. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A GROUP OF EXPERIENCED, DEDICATED DENTISTS PROVIDING SERVICES IN OUR DENTAL CLINIC TO THIS POPULATION THAT OFTEN NEEDS EXTENSIVE DENTAL WORK. THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR WE CONTINUED TO OFFER EXPANDED DENTAL HYGIENE SERVICES FROM 2 DAYS A WEEK TO 5 DAYS A WEEK AND THIS HAS GREATLY IMPROVED WAIT TIMES FOR THIS VITAL NEED. THE CLINIC SERVED 1,739 CLIENTS DURING 4,679 DENTAL VISITS, PROVIDING MORE THAN $4.5 MILLION IN SERVICES VALUE IN 2019/2020.OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH LAKE ERIE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (LECOM) CONTINUED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND AFTER. THE PARTNERSHIP ENABLES US TO PROVIDE PRIMARY CARE IN THE MORNINGS BY UTILIZING FOURTH YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS AS PROVIDERS, SUPERVISED BY A PHYSICIAN. OUR CLIENTS GREATLY BENEFIT BY ALSO HAVING LECOM PHARMACY STUDENTS AND THEIR SUPERVISORS ON SITE DAILY. THESE STUDENTS ASSIST CLIENTS WITH UNDERSTANDING THEIR MEDICATIONS AND HOW TO USE THEM, AS WELL AS PROVIDING WEIGHT MANAGEMENT INDIVIDUALIZED COUNSELING. THEY ENSURE CLIENTS ELIGIBLE FOR PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS HAVE THEIR REQUESTS SUBMITTED, ENABLING THEM TO RECEIVE OFTEN COSTLY MEDICATIONS AT A GREAT DISCOUNT.ALONG WITH THE EDUCATIONAL ASPECT OF OUR CLINIC, WE WORK HARD TO PROVIDE SPECIALTY CARE ON SITE THAT IS OFTEN REQUIRED BY OUR PATIENTS. VOLUNTEER PHYSICIANS PROVIDED CARE IN GYNECOLOGY, PULMONOLOGY, DERMATOLOGY, CARDIOLOGY, PODIATRY, OPHTHALMOLOGY, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER SPECIALTIES. OUR HEPATITIS C, DIABETES, AND COUMADIN CLINICS AIDED PEOPLE WITH PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT.

THE DAY RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES A CARING PLACE FOR MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS TO GET BASIC NEEDS MET MANY OF THE THINGS THAT THE REST OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED! WHILE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE DAY RESOURCE CENTER SERVICES, CLIENTS ARE ALSO EXPOSED TO THE WIDE RANGE OF ADDITIONAL SERVICES AVAILABLE AT TURNING POINTS. AS ONE OF THE ONLY AGENCIES OFFERING SERVICES THE COVID 19 STATE WIDE SHUT DOWN, THESE SERVICES WERE EVEN MORE CRITICAL TO OUR CLIENTS. THE GOAL IS TO CONNECT THEM WITH THE SERVICES THEY REQUIRE SO THEY CAN BEGIN OR CONTINUE ON A PATH TO INDEPENDENCE AND STABILITY. CLIENTS CAN GET HOT SHOWERS, CLEAN CLOTHING AND SHOES, LAUNDRY SERVICES, ACCESS TO RESTROOMS, TELEPHONES, FAX AND COMPUTERS. THEY CAN GET HAIRCUTS, GET THEIR MAIL DELIVERED TO THE OPEN DOOR, GET HELP WITH PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS AND RECEIVE OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICES. ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL SERVICES PROVIDED IS ASSISTANCE WITH OBTAINING BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND LEGAL IDENTIFICATION. IN ORDER TO ACCESS MAINSTREAM SERVICES THAT ENABLE PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE STABILITY IN THEIR LIVES, CLIENTS MUST HAVE LEGAL PICTURE IDENTIFICATION. WE ALSO OFFER CLIENTS TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, EITHER WITH BUS PASSES FOR THOSE WITH MEDICAL OR EMPLOYMENT APPOINTMENTS, OR A ONCE IN A LIFETIME GIFT OF A BICYCLE FOR THEM TO USE. DURING THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, A TOTAL OF 3,061 CLIENTS WERE SERVED, WITH 869 OF THESE BEING NEW CLIENTS. OUR VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF ASSISTED CLIENTS WITH 114,849 SERVICES DURING THE YEAR WHILE CLIENTS WERE IN FOR 23,835 VISITS. OF THE NEW CLIENTS SEEN, 40.34% WERE MALE, 42.51% WERE FEMALE AND 17.16% WERE OTHER. THERE WERE 643 CLIENTS THAT RECEIVED A BICYCLE FOR TRANSPORTATION.WE ARE PROUD TO HOUSE A JOB CONNECTION OFFICE IN THE OPEN DOOR, STAFFED BY OUR VALUED PARTNER GOODWILL MANASOTA. THIS GIVES CLIENTS ON SITE ACCESS TO SEVERAL STAFF WITH THE EXPERTISE TO ASSIST THEM IN OBTAINING AND MAINTAINING EMPLOYMENT, THE KEY TO GAINING HOUSING STABILITY! THE GOODWILL STAFF SERVED 56 CLIENTS AND MADE 18 PLACEMENTS.

FALLING BEHIND IN PAYING YOUR RENT CAN BE A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE. IT IS NEVER EASY TO MANAGE INCOME AND EXPENSES, BUT WHEN YOU ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK IT CAN BE TERRIFYING TO REALIZE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAY FOR YOUR HOUSING THAT MONTH. FOR CLIENTS OF OUR TRANSITIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (TDP), MANY FIRST REACT BY DENYING THE PROBLEM, HOPING "SOMETHING" WILL HAPPEN TO CHANGE THEIR SITUATION. USUALLY SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN AN EVICTION NOTICE! PEOPLE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO ASKING FOR HELP OR ASSISTANCE FIND THEMSELVES FORCED TO LOOK FOR RENT AND/OR UTILITY ASSISTANCE IN ORDER TO STAY HOUSED WITH UTILITIES KEPT ON. THE MAJOR GOAL OF OUR TDP PROGRAM IS TO ASSIST ELIGIBLE CLIENTS WITH RENT AND/OR UTILITY PAYMENTS TO PREVENT THEM FROM BECOMING HOMELESS. THIS IS COMPLEMENTED BY CASE MANAGEMENT FOR THE CLIENTS WHICH ADDRESSES BUDGETING EDUCATION (EACH CLIENT LEARNS TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN HOUSEHOLD BUDGET) AS WELL AS INFORMATION AND REFERRAL FOR SUPPORT PROGRAMS THE CLIENT MAY NEED AVAILABLE FROM ONE OF OUR MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS.TDP ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY HOMELESS (LIVING IN SHELTERS, THEIR CARS, ON THE STREETS, OR WITH FRIENDS) WHO ARE TRYING TO GET INTO HOUSING. MANAGING TO GET TOGETHER A SECURITY DEPOSIT AND FIRST MONTH'S RENT IS OFTEN A HUGE BARRIER FOR PEOPLE WITH FIXED INCOMES OR WHO ARE EARNING LOW WAGES. IN THE PAST YEAR THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO EMPLOY FOUR CASE MANAGERS DEDICATED TO HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND RAPID RE-HOUSING. FUNDING FOR ASSISTANCE COMES FROM FEDERAL AND STATE SOURCES, BUT THE MAJORITY COMES FROM THE LOCAL SEASON OF SHARING FUND. THIS FUND IS A LIFE SAVER FOR THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES, AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MUCH OF THE HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE. WITH APPROXIMATELY 39% OF MANATEE COUNTY RESIDENTS LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR FUNDING ASSISTANCE TO HELP THOSE WHO SUFFER A SETBACK. CHALLENGES TO PAYING THE RENT OCCUR WHEN PEOPLE EXPERIENCE ILLNESS, OR HAVE A CHILD OR SENIOR IN THE FAMILY THEY ARE CAREGIVERS FOR THAT ARE ILL, REQUIRING THEM TO MISS WORK. WE HAVE CLIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN IN A CAR ACCIDENT OR HAD MAJOR CAR EXPENSES, WHO LOST THEIR JOB OR LOST HOURS OF WORK REDUCING THEIR PAY. OTHERS HAVE SUFFERED BECAUSE OF FAMILY VIOLENCE THAT REQUIRED ONE PERSON TO LEAVE THE HOUSEHOLD, OR THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD ABANDONED THE FAMILY COMPLETELY. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE COMMON REASONS PEOPLE SEEK FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STAY HOUSED. COVID-19 DRAMATICALLY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS TURNING TO TURNING POINTS FOR ASSISTANCE. IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR OUR CASE MANAGERS MET WITH HEADS OF 1,341 HOUSEHOLDS THAT WERE OCCUPIED BY 3,032 PEOPLE. OF THESE HOUSEHOLDS, 500 MET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND WERE ASSISTED FINANCIALLY TO STAY IN OR ACQUIRE NEW HOUSING. THIS MEANS THAT 1,691 ADULTS AND WITH 1,256 CHILDREN AVOIDED HOMELESSNESS OR WERE HOUSED. EACH HOUSEHOLD WAS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE VERIFICATION OF THEIR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN HOUSING AFTER RECEIVING ASSISTANCE, AND DOCUMENTATION WAS PROVIDED FOR INCOME AND HOUSEHOLD OCCUPANTS.

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