Community Coalition On Homelessness Corp dba Turning Points

Programs: The transitional development program (tdp) provides case management, information and referral, and financial assistance to low income eligible clients seeking help with security deposits for rent or utilities, overdue or current rent, and overdue or current utility payments. A receptionist/program assistant screens client applications, which are available online at our website, then contacts clients that meet eligibility requirements to set up an appointment with one of our two case managers. Our receptionists handle phone inquiries, monitor web applications of clients and respond to clients that are walk-ins at our facility. Our case managers provide individualized counseling sessions with prospective clients which includes budgeting education and the development of a budget tailored to the client's income, resources and expenses. In the fye 6-30-13 case managers met with heads of 1,228 households which were composed of 1,623 adults with 1,782 children. There were 453 households that received financial assistance - these households had 592 adults with 622 children.

the open door day resource center program provides basic needs to men, women and children that are low income and/or homeless. A wide variety of services are provided and are primarily staffed by volunteers. Services provided includes access to restrooms, telephone, fax, computers, mail service, hot showers and a daily continental breakfast. Laundry services are available for clients to wash up to 10 items of clothing a week; and this is complemented by a well stocked clothes closet where men, women and children have access to clothing, shoes, diapers, formula and personal clothing items. The open door assists clients in obtaining critically needed documents such as birth certificates and florida id cards which are required for employment and access to other benefit programs. Our partner agency, goodwill manasota, provides two full time personnel who offer comprehensive employment assistance services in our computer lab. We also provide assistance with food stamp application and other dcf services. During 2012/2013, the open door program assisted 6,083 clients, of which 2,280 were new clients.

the one stop clinic provides free medical and dental services to clients that meet program eligibility requirements of residency and income. They also must not be covered by any kind of insurance. However, since there are not enough dentists that provide care to medicaid clients, we are able to see medicaid clients in our dental clinic. We partner with manatee memorial hospital and lake erie college of medicine for the professionals that provide primary care in our medical clinic which operates forty hours a week (monday through friday). During the 2012/2013 year there were 1,045 clients that received care in our medical clinic, during a total of 3,732 visits. Licensed health care providers in the medical and dental clinic volunteered almost 6,500 hours of service our dental clinic grant, which provided funding to pay dentists for services ended in march 2013, resulting in the loss of a paid dentist and a reduction in the hours of operation of the dental clinic. For the remainder of the year we operated dental services with volunteer dentists, supplemented by a paid dentist when contributions were available. During 2012/2013 there were 595 clients served in the dental clinic during 2,181 visits.

the community coalition is the state recognized homeless coalition of manatee county, coordinating monthly meetings open to all entities providing services to the homeless. These path (people assisting the homeless)meetings help organizational representatives stay informed on current issues of importance to agencies from a community/county perspective, as well as educate participants on legislative and funding concerns relevant to the homeless population. The one stop center also provides space to partner organizations enabling them to provide their services on-site. Having this variety of services available at one site is of enormous benefit to clients who usually have major difficulties with transportation.