Photo provided Volunteers recently helped Turning Point put together new bunk beds and get new rooms set up. Turning Point said the beds were provided by the Landmark Farm Foundation.
A local emergency shelter has completed a remodel that increases its capacity to serve those in need of safety.
“We opened our new sleeping rooms last week, so we are officially moved to a 40-bed shelter,” said Turning Point Domestic Violence Services President Whittney Loyd.
The organization shared on social media that, in addition to allowing space for 15 more individuals, the changes also create “a more welcoming and adaptable space for special populations.”
The renovations were made possible by a grant from the city of Columbus, which allocated $232,618.23 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to the project. Assistant director of community development Robin Hilber said in a previous interview that Turning Point was contributing $6,000. An addendum to the city’s subrecipient agreement with the organization, which was approved in April, outlined the following project budget:
- Turning Point renovations — $232,700
- Renovation contingencies — $918.23
- Labor standards monitoring —$5,000
The Columbus Board of Works has approved a few change orders to the project since then. The latest, which came in late September, brought the cost of renovations to $227,107.61.
“We are beyond grateful that we will now be able to accept more families seeking safety,” Loyd said. “We never turn anyone away that is in crisis or experiencing DV (domestic violence), but it is so much easier and more accessible for us to welcome them into our own facilities to provide that ongoing case management.”
She said that in the past, when they’ve been out of room, Turning Point has worked with local hotels to provide “emergency overnight safety services” for individuals. They would then work with Safe Passage Inc in Batesville, Ind. and, if space was available, Turning Point would coordinate transportation to the shelter.
The renovations are a “gamechanger” for Turning Point staff and local families experiencing domestic or dating violence, Loyd said.
