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Drop-In
Center
In July 2004
Turning Point opened a Drop-In Center in our
Sanford location at 203 East Third Street,
Sanford. The Drop-In Center (funded under
the Ryan White Care Act-Title A) is designed to
address the needs of the highly at-risk homeless
population. It is a non-threatening, safe
and supportive environment that is conducive for
optimum substance abuse recovery. The
Drop-In Center allows for the development of
peer relationships and encourages this at-risk
population to connect with resources in the
community that prior to this have presented
barriers to this population. Located in
the heart of Sanford, the Center offers the
clients the opportunity to establish rapport
with paraprofessionals, develop trust in this
non-threatening delivery system, and learn how
to connect in a productive way with other needed
services.
The Drop-In
Center provides several types of services: 1)
HIV/AIDS and substance abuse education; 2)
Counseling and life coaching; 3) HIV testing; 4)
Referrals to local community resources and 5) A
safe haven-a safe place to come where they will
not be judged.
The Drop-In
Center collaborates with Hope and Help of
Central Florida, Seminole Behavioral Health
Center, The Place of Comfort, The Hope Mobile
Team, Christian Sharing Center and the Seminole
County Health Department. The program is
staffed by two paraprofessionals who act as
resource agents - connecting the client to
community resources, Social Security offices,
Veteran's Administration, emergency health care
agencies, and food services. Clients are
introduced to AA and NA readings and meditations
and are given the opportunity to address
housing, legal, dental/medical and
transportation issues.
In the past
year, the Drop-In Center recorded 4,794 visits
from participants. Participants are
homeless, living in the woods and have needs for
personal items, such as: toothpaste, tooth
brushes, soap, socks, deodorants, combs and
basic essentials of daily living.
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