Area Relief Ministries, Turning Point to host homeless roundtable; Turning Point plans new supportive-housing site

Area Relief Ministries’ representatives and Turning Point staff told '6 in the City' they are expanding local services for people experiencing chronic homelessness and invited the public to a free homeless roundtable at Fellowship Bible’s ministry center.

A Turning Point representative described a permanent supportive-housing safe-haven planned for East Jackson on Lexington Avenue and said the organization hopes the new site will open in late spring. “We have a new Turning Point, safe haven permanent supportive housing coming to East Jackson,” the representative said, adding that the first Turning Point location has operated since 2006 and that the program provides life-skills coaching, therapy and support to help residents transition to stable housing.

Organizers said the homeless roundtable will include a keynote speaker from Nashville (Kayla Ritchie), panel discussions, breakout sessions for hands-on demonstrations, networking and lunch; the event is free and open with online registration available at btc.arearelief.org. Speakers noted partner participation from regional homeless- and housing-service organizations, including an Office of Homeless and Housing Services representative from Nashville and other West Tennessee partners.

Hosts and guests gave conflicting calendar references during the broadcast; the segment repeatedly stated the event starts at 8:00 a.m., and program materials and a later host comment indicate the roundtable will take place on Thursday (the show references both the 12th and the 13th during the segment). Interested attendees should confirm the date on the event registration page before traveling.

Turning Point and Area Relief Ministries framed the work as part of a regional continuum of care and said the roundtable is intended to surface collaborative approaches to trauma-informed care, poverty cycles and local supportive services.