After an eight-year journey grappling with domestic violence, substance abuse, and being formerly incarcerated, Michelle Perkins triumphed over adversity establishing the Turning Point Alcohol & Drug Education Program in the vibrant community of South Los Angeles. Determined to transform her life, she embarked on a challenging yet rewarding path to offer vital tools for individuals to help them repair, rebuild and restore their own lives after incarceration.
During a Re-Entry Resources and Health Fair on June 15, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove presented Turning Point AOD with $900,000 for housing and all the supportive services necessary to empower formerly incarcerated women. Its family unification program provides pickups from jail or prison, transportation to appointments, referrals to community services/assistance, and advocacy to navigate those systems.
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“Nearly 2 million women are released from prison or jail each year in the United States, facing countless barriers to reentry. These women deserve the resources necessary to successfully reintegrate into, and become contributing members of, their communities,” said Kamlager-Dove.
“Here in Los Angeles, Turning Point works daily to break the cycle of mass incarceration by connecting individuals with holistic community-based reentry resources. I was proud to secure $900,000 for their Safe Housing Project, which will help formerly incarcerated women get back on their feet by connecting them with the supportive and housing services needed to heal, grow, and flourish.”
Turning Point Women’s Reentry SAFE Housing is dedicated to the support of women marginalized by addiction, trauma, criminality, incarceration, poverty, racism, sexism, homelessness, and violence. In 2020, Turning Point opened its first home for women exiting prison and jail in Los Angeles County.
Its reentry home is based on the model established by Susan Burton at A New Way of Life (ANWOL) in 1998. Turning Point is a member of ANWOL’s SAFE (Sisterhood Alliance for Freedom and Equality) Housing Network.
“Turning Point extends our heartfelt gratitude to Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove for her steadfast support of Turning Point, said Executive Director Michelle Perkins who founded the organization in 2009.
“Her advocacy has been instrumental in securing vital resources and recognition for our organization. With her unwavering commitment, Turning Point can continue empowering lives and making a difference in our community. Thank you, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove, for championing our cause and standing with us in our mission.”
Turning Point clients receive all the necessities of daily living, including healthy meals, clothing, and toiletries. They are also provided with access to onsite 12-step recovery programs, family reunification services, personal/family counseling, job training, employment/educational opportunities, legal services, computer training, personal/leadership development, financial planning, communication-building workshops, and permanent housing – all designed to facilitate self-sufficiency and economic prosperity.
