by Sarah Thomack
St. Joseph Post
Pivotal Point Transitional Housing in St. Joseph has continued helping individuals despite its thrift shop being closed and funding losses due to COVID-19.
Pivotal Point offers a transitional housing program for families and individuals to help them overcome homelessness and become self-sufficient.
Pivotal Point Program Manager Tracy Bailey says despite COVID-19 concerns, residents continued to thrive in the program.
“Even though so many places were closed, we were very fortunate that most of our residents weren’t really affected by that,” Bailey tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “We were just grateful we were able to continue to serve them and walk alongside them and also to teach them that these things happen, we are not in control. We know that things can change in a moment’s time and we have to prepare for that in some way, having savings accounts and jobs that are sustainable through things that we can’t always control.”
Pivotal Point Executive Director Melissa Frakes says they did have to close their thrift shop for seven weeks due to shelter-in-place orders. That, and the loss of a grant, resulted in about an $80,000 loss in recent months.
"We realize to never take anything for granted," Frakes says. "We really appreciate our thrift store, the thrift store really exists for the mission and the ministry of what we do and when you're closed for seven weeks, you get a full realization of the impact it has."
One of Pivotal Point’s biggest fundraisers of the year will still be taking place, just at a different time and place. The Fall Ball will be held virtually July 26th through August 2nd. Find more information on their website or Facebook page.