Turning Point closes successful 2015

Staff Writer
Wicked Local
Staff members of Minot Forest Elementary School staged a fundraising drive to benefit Turning Point in 2015. Principal Joan Seamans is photographed here with some of the personal-care items donated to Turning Point.

Photo courtesy of Joan Seamans

WAREHAM – The Wareham-based Turning Point program, operated by the Wareham Area Committee for the Homeless, recorded significant gains in 2015 in preventing and ending homelessness in Wareham.

According to a press release, Turning Point was integral in stabilizing existing housing in “35 separate cases (of) Wareham area families or individuals” through rental assistance. Most prominent among examples were a single mother of several children placed in subsidized housing with a security deposit; a grandmother raising her grandson transferred to subsidized housing with rental arrears; and two instances of housing court settlements and eviction notices “resolved with rental assistance to address rental arrears.”

Turning Point also subsidized 14 cases centering on 21 people transferred from homelessness to housing units, including a chronically homeless couple and frequent guests of the Wareham Clergy Association’s “Nights of Hospitality” program; a mother and child previously living in a tent; and a homeless woman and man expecting their first child.

Turning Point also arranged for seven individuals to receive Massachusetts State Homeless Housing Vouchers (nine people actually qualified, but accommodating landlords could not be located for two, requiring them to surrender their vouchers). Five qualified recipients have been successfully housed in Wareham, and the other two will be housed in Plymouth.

New vouchers were made available to Wareham residents in 2015 for the first time in four years.

According to the release, Turning Point received one-time grants in either 2014 or 2015 for its homelessness mitigating efforts of $10,000 from Eastern Bank, $7,500 from the Wareham Community and Economic Development Authority, and $15,000 earmarked in the state’s operating budget for Fiscal Year 2016 sponsored by state Rep. Susan Williams Gifford, R-Wareham. Its “largest contributor” continues to be the Massachusetts Children’s Relief program through its “Tastes and Sounds” fundraisers.

Thanks to Turning Point’s efforts and the volunteer contributions of many people and organizations locally, a total of 28 previously homeless Wareham area people were provided with housing in 2015, far in excess of the organization’s annual goal of locating housing for six chronically homeless people every year. However, this year’s “Nights of Hospitality” program “has been attended by a greater number of individuals than in the past,” meaning the organization will extend its efforts through increased community awareness of programs through various media outlets; continue support through donations; continue solicitation of housing vouchers through the state; seek viable one-time grant opportunities; and expand its support network of Wareham landlords and property managers.

Turning Point’s ongoing efforts are focused on a community initiative titled “Report on Homelessness in Wareham” that was completed in 2014. The report detailed recommendations addressing four specific community needs – housing intervention, employment and income, and homelessness prevention.

In addition to its homelessness mitigation efforts, Turning Point also provides services such as utility assistance, emergency food pantry and referrals to emergency shelters, clothing sources and other resources for specific client needs. WACH also sponsors Baby Point, Beach Buckets, Back to School Backpacks and Christmas dinner baskets and gifts distributions.

Additional information about Turning Point and WACH programs is available through Pastor David Shaw (508-295-9268 or pastordmshaw@verizon.net), Kathy McAdams (508-291-0535, or kMcAdams@helpfbms.org) or Tom Fitzpatrick (508-291-0160, or tefitzpatrick@gmail.com).