Turning Point Foundation

Improving Quality of Life

By Katrina McDowell on Jul 16, 2024 in Giving

Mental illness can touch anyone, regardless of their race, culture, income, age, or level of education. It affects one in four adults and one in ten children each year.

Turning Point Foundation (TPF), established in 1988 in Ventura, Calif., is on a mission to improve the quality of life for adults experiencing serious mental illness, addiction, lack of housing and inadequate physical health care. TPF provides health navigation services, rehabilitation, wellness and recovery programs, and temporary, transitional and permanent housing in Ventura County.

Turning Point Foundation plans to expand its critical community-based and client-centered mental health and rehabilitation services, as well as an array of supported housing (temporary, transitional, and permanent), housing and health navigation, and other support services, to 3,500 individuals annually.

TPF is partnering with the Ventura County Criminal Justice System to support mental health treatment, substance use disorder treatment, and diversion programs for people in the criminal justice system with mental health and substance use disorders. TPF aims to improve the life trajectory of adults in the criminal system with housing support and evidence-based practices.

“This program strives to reduce recidivism by fostering the principles of restorative justice through leveraging community partnership and collaboration, targeting populations who are underserved and inappropriately served through mental health and substance use service providers, or overrepresented in the criminal justice systems or experiencing or at risk of homelessness,” said Josh Carsman marketing events and fund development for TPF & Rena Sepulveda, contract and grants director for TPF.

Ventura County has a significant need for adult resident facilities and care for the elderly “board and cares.” Many of the existing Board and Care facilities have closed in recent years and continue to close as the need grows. Next year, TPF will take over operations of an existing Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (The Elms), with a new name, Willow Terrace—a 56-bed-assisted living facility for adults 60 and older with severe mental illnesses.

“Willow Terrace further exemplifies the dynamic benefits of leveraging public, private, and non-profit partnerships to improve the quality of life for some of the most vulnerable in our community,” they explained.

TPF’s programs address the housing and health needs of mentally ill adults, moving from homelessness to housing, while linking them to healthcare, employment, and other resources. Turning Point Foundation will additionally grow the following programs and services:

• Street Outreach and Engagement: Provides access to immediate and basic needs and builds rapport and trusting relationships to help the homeless develop a housing plan linked to healthcare and other services.
• Homeless2Home Rapid Re-Housing: offers flexible financial assistance (rent, security deposit, moving costs) and case management services, including health navigation, housing location and stabilization services to house homeless mentally ill persons in Ventura County and continue to provide supportive services as needed after being housed. Last year, 55 homeless adults with mental health challenges received these services, obtaining permanent housing. Between 2023 and 2024, 72 homeless were provided flexible rental subsidies and voluntary supportive services, successfully obtaining permanent housing and ending homelessness.
• Veterans Transitional Housing Program: is in partnership with the Veterans Administration and, through six months, serves homeless veterans experiencing PTSD and other mental health conditions through assistance with obtaining permanent housing, income, medical attention, substance abuse treatment and mental health services. A first of its kind in Ventura County, since becoming operational in October 2015, over 500 veterans have been assisted through this program, with the majority successfully obtaining permanent housing in the community.
• Growing Works: is an innovative employment training, horticulture therapy, and wellness program that provides supportive employment through a wholesale native plants nursery serving mentally ill adults. Many program participants are homeless.

Watch the video to learn more about Grow Works and TPF’s veteran’s stories after being housed.

Yardi funds are a critical component of the private community support needed to fill the gap not covered by the government for the homeless continuum of services to assist mentally ill individuals in addressing barriers contributing to their homelessness and obtaining housing. Ventura County has many unmet needs regarding homelessness, especially for those with mental illness and substance use disorders, of which Yardi funds are instrumental in assisting TPF in meeting some of these needs.

“On behalf of Turning Point Foundation’s Board of Directors, staff and most importantly, the community members served, we are incredibly grateful for Yardi’s support. The support of a local company like Yardi, which truly cares about the community and makes all the difference in improving the quality of life for some of the most vulnerable and underserved in Ventura County,” they expressed.  

Volunteer Opportunities

Turning Point Foundation welcomes volunteers for its Grows Works location in Camarillo, its annual Mental Wellness Festival and fundraising events. Please email them at [email protected].

TPF also welcomes donations to its nonprofit eBay store through online and mailed-in donations. The mailing address is PO Box 24397, Ventura, CA 93002. Checks are made to “Turning Point Foundation”.

Keep up to date with TPF for special announcements on social media, such as Facebook and/or Instagram, and subscribe to receive emails.

“Your generosity helps us continue to make a difference toward improving the quality of life for those struggling in our community,” they shared.

Find future non-profit profiles at https://www.yardi.com/blog/category/giving.

Yardi is Energized for Good! Visit www.yardi.org for more about our philanthropic reach.