PALMETTO, Fla. — Turning Points, a nonprofit that provides homeless assistance, will bring services to help prevent homelessness directly to two Manatee County schools, if approved by school board members Tuesday.
Kathleen Cramer, executive director of Turning Points, says they hope to start providing services at the Lincoln Memorial Middle School Family Welcome Center in Palmetto. Rental assistance, help with utility payments, assistance with SNAP benefit applications and Medicaid will be available on the campus of Lincoln Middle, if approved.
As part of an 18-month pilot program, these services would be solely for the families of Lincoln Memorial Middle School students and Palmetto Elementary students. School District of Manatee County employees would also be eligible, as well as students already served through the Project Heart Program.
“This is much more directed on serving the parents and making the family stable,” Cramer said. “Many other programs have focused on food insecurity, or focused on the student. We’ll not be calling the kids out of class. Our work is with the parents, making sure we can stabilize the household.”
Cramer says families can call and schedule an appointment themselves, or teachers can refer students and their families who may be struggling. Turning Points estimates about 2,000 students in Manatee County are homeless.
“When families are unstable, the children cannot focus on their academics,” Cramer said. “If we can stabilize the families and the home situation, we believe it will allow children to continue to focus on their academics and really invest in that.”
After the pilot program is complete, Turning Points hopes to expand to four locations over the next 10 years and be available to all students and families.
The school board plans to discuss and vote on the new partnership during a meeting set for Tuesday evening.
Angie Angers
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