BY MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
For ten years, Pivotal Point Transitional Housing in St. Joseph has been helping homeless individuals overcome hard times.
Pivotal Point Executive Director Melissa Frakes says the amount of services they provide is quite extensive.
"What we have found while we have been with Pivotal Point and Hillcrest is that we offer so many more things then people might know," she said on KFEQ's The Hotline.
Frakes says the transitional housing helps people with budgeting as well as life skills that help them get back on their feet.
"Ninety percent of their food needs come from our pantry, which come from the community and we pay for," Frakes says. "They live in a furnished apartment. They do not pay rent while they are with us and they do not pay their utilities."
While some believe Pivotal Point just hands out this assistance, there are many barriers individuals must overcome to keep their housing, including paying any past due rent and utility bills from places they may have lived before.
From 2016-2021, Pivotal Point has assisted over 350 families, including 362 adults and 418 children.
Frakes says Pivotal Point has made some changes in the last couple years, specifically aimed towards youth.
"We had youth coming to us in late 2016 and early 2017," Frakes explained. "We had two youth from this community that were kind of in high school. One of them actually was still attending, but the other was really struggling to attend and so it started with those two."
While most housing at Pivotal Point is designated for adults, Frakes says there are some big plans coming up in the future for youth.
"We really set aside 2.5 years ago one apartment, and last year, we served seven young adults" Frakes says. "So, we see that need and we have been addressing that in small form."
Frakes says Pivotal Point is planning to build a youth building, and hopes more of those plans will be announced later this year.
Ten years is a long time to do anything, but Frakes says they wouldn't be able to do what they do without the support of the community and the many volunteers who help.
To celebrate their 10-year anniversary, Pivotal Point has some special events coming up to mark the occasion and to also raise money for their cause.
"Coming up really really soon, and part of our ten-year celebration, is our online auction," Frakes says. "So, we are going to do an online auction June 2nd through the 6th."
Some other events coming up include Ladies' Night at Pivotal Point thrift store on June 3 as well as a celebration that's being planned for September 18th. More information will be coming on that in the future.
You can fine more on Pivotal Points at their website HERE.