Places for People - Opening Doors to Hope and Recovery

After 35 years, the funding challenge is only becoming more difficult . . .

When Places for People formed 35 years ago, state resources funded over		By 2007, that percentage had slipped to below

of program costs.		of program costs.

Continued decreases means PfP must rely increasingly on the generosity of individuals and foundations to continue to provide essential services to the most vulnerable people in our community.

Why the decrease in funding?
What is affected?
Where does the money go?
How does PfP bridge the funding gap?

Why the Decrease in Funding?

There are three primary reasons why the funding percentage from state resources has
decreased.

1		Since 1972, PfP has added many new services and programs to meet client needs. However, many of these unique and essential services are not supported by Medicaid.
2		State support for community support workers’ salaries has remained stagnant, and cost-of-living expenses have not been addressed in state mental health funding.
3		More recently, cuts to Medicaid spending in 2005 resulted in a loss of $100,000 in reimbursable expenses that has not been restored.

What Is Affected by the Funding Shortfall?

Numerous services and programs offered by Places for People are not billable to Medicaid.

Telephone conversations between clients and community support workers because they are not a face-to-face interaction. On average, PfP receives over 250 calls from clients daily.
Working or acting on behalf of a client who is not present, including visits or calls to Medicaid or Social Security
Talking with a client’s landlord, doctor, attorney, or family member if the client is not present
Parenting assistance
Transportation and travel time to and from clients’ homes
Housing assistance, including moving costs and providing emergency housing to individuals who are homeless

Services that are not identified as medically necessary on the client’s treatment plan
Recreational activities
Vocational assistance
Educational services
Nursing services and medication management, which affects over 200 PfP clients
Client Accounting Services, which assists 225 clients each month with paying bills and managing finances
Hot, nutritious lunches provided to an average of 80 members daily in The Club

Where Does the Money Go?

Homelessness does not take holidays. People living with mental illnesses do not stop needing care at the end of an 8-hour day or a 40-hour work week. In many cases, the need for care, like the illness, is lifelong. At Places for People, that means that services are provided every day, after hours, and for as long as needed by a client.

Of course, there is a cost for all of these essential services. Consider the following examples that illustrate per unit costs for certain services:

	$870.33 Average monthly cost for providing homeless outreach services to one client			$100 Cost of moving a client from emergency housing to independent housing
	$500 Average monthly cost for providing emergency housing to one client			$78.30 Average monthly cost for providing daily lunch for one client
	$250 Cost for providing the initial month of food for all five of the emergency housing units

The bottom line is that basic operating expenses, which include the costs of essential, established services and programs, can be the most difficult to fund. To further compound the problem, many foundations prefer to finance only new projects and frequently only over a short-term duration.

How Does PfP Bridge the Gap?

Private donations are the key to remaining fiscally solvent as state revenues promise only to continue shrinking. In fiscal year 2007,

Foundation grants accounted for $867,374, or 20% of the annual income
Individual donations totalled $424,057, or 10% of the annual income.

The generosity of community leaders, corporations, and foundations has helped to ensure that Places for People keeps the doors to hope and recovery open. PfP members are truly grateful for the support.

TEAMS NOW Forming!

Click here to learn more or register!

Thank YOU!

Thank you to all of our supporters who helped make Places at the Garden an enjoyable and successful night. With your help, we raised over $83,000! Click here to view event photos!

Check out our new video, donated by Thomas Malkowicz.

Your donations are a gift of hope for our clients:

Places for People
4130 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
Tel: 314-535-5600
Fax: 314-535-6037
Toll-Free: 800-584-3930
www.placesforpeople.org

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