How homelessness in Manatee extends beyond Bradenton streets — and the help out there
People without homes seen on Bradenton street corners only hint at a bigger problem in Manatee County.
“The unhoused population is like an iceberg. Most of it is below the surface,” Kathleen Cramer, executive director of Turning Points, told a Giving Tuesday breakfast crowd of 370 at the Bradenton Area Convention Center.
The number of Manatee households living below the ALICE threshold — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — has risen 16% since 2019, from 57,768 households to 66,818.
Essentially, that means ALICE families earn just above the federal poverty level but less than what it takes to make ends meet.
In all, 31% of households in Manatee County live below the ALICE threshold, and 10% live in poverty. Many are without homes through no fault of their own. About 1,500 school-age children in Manatee County are experiencing homelessness, Cramer said.
Against that backdrop, Turning Points serves over 8,000 people a year who are unhoused or one paycheck away from becoming homeless out of its base at 701 17th Ave. W. in Bradenton.
The nonprofit Turning Points offers help with basic needs, including clothing, dental and medical care, and rent and veterans assistance.
How one person got help from Turning Points
Dana Welch was a working mom who suffered a stroke at age 52 in 2022, and was in the hospital for about a month.
“Everything just stopped in my life,” Welch said Tuesday.
While she struggled to regain her health and was unable to work, she lived in her car for more than a year.
Out of desperation she called the Manatee County help line, 211, and was referred to Turning Points.
To Welch’s relief, Turning Points staff embraced her with understanding, empathy and a way forward.
“They helped us with food, clothing and housing,” Welch said.
In October, Welch moved into a duplex with her daughter Latasha Williams.
Jessica Godfrey, a care navigator with Turning Points, assisted Welch with her quest for a better life.
“Dana and Latasha really did all the work. All I did was provide the resources,” Godfrey said.
Welch and Williams did their own housing search and negotiated with the landlord, Godfrey said.
They also found furnishings for the house.
“She was living in her car so long that she no longer had any furniture,” Godfrey said. “Dana is motivated and is a good advocate for herself and her daughter.”
Welch wants to continue working on her speech therapy with the goal of returning to the workforce.
How Turning Points can help
The Tuesday morning breakfast was to spread the word about what Turning Points does, to thank those who help and to seek more funding, Cramer said.
Turning Points is available to help people in their darkest moments, to give as many chances as it takes for a better life, she said.
During the past year, Turning Points provided about $2 million in rental assistance to help people stay in their homes.
Five-year pledges of help at whatever level are important to Turning Points in delivering services.
“If we had more resources we could do more,” Cramer said. “Help us grow our partnerships.”
To know more or donate
Phone: Call 941-747-1509.
Online: Visit https://tpmanatee.org/.
