Turning Point, a local shelter for victims of domestic or sexual violence, is requesting an increase in the support it receives from the city of Warrenton.

“In the last 12 months alone, we have seen 315 in-person survivors of domestic and sexual violence — that represents a 72 percent increase since (2013),” said Ellen Reed, executive director of Turning Point.

“We are growing,” she said. “We have added staff. We are up to 18 staff members, most of whom are fairly local.”

The number of beds at the shelter has almost doubled in the last few years, from 20 to 35, and the shelter still has to turn people away, Reed said.

Turning Point also provides services beyond food, clothing and shelter, including court advocacy for victims.

Of the abuse victims who come to the shelter from within Warren County, more than half are Warrenton residents, Reed said.

To continue funding the shelter and paying staff, Reed is asking Warrenton to take advantage of a funding mechanism that was created by state law.

A provision of Missouri statute allows city governments to charge a small fee to anyone convicted of a municipal ordinance violation. That money can only be given to shelters for domestic violence victims.

Court fees

Currently Warrenton charges a $2 municipal court fee under state provision. Turning Point is asking the city to raise that fee to its maximum $4.

Warrenton assesses a variety of other municipal court fees, as well.

If the fee directed to Turning Point increases, typical court fees for anyone convicted of a municipal ordinance violation could go up from about $26 to $28.

When the city began contributing court fees to Turning Point, the yearly expectation for the shelter was about $6,000, although Reed said that amount has been down in recent years. By doubling the fees, Turning Point hopes to draw $12,000 from Warrenton’s municipal court.

Reed also is asking the city to contribute an additional $8,000 on top of court fees, which would bring Warrenton’s total contribution up to $20,000.

She is making similar requests to surrounding city and county governments, to implement or increase court fees directed to the shelter.

Turning Point currently receives money from Warren County marriage and dissolution court fees. Reed hopes adding more of those fees would bring in up to another $20,000.

Court fees make up a relatively small amount of Turning Point’s 2017-18 budget of $592,000. However, several major funding sources are government grants and limited-term contracts, so Reed said shoring up other funding sources can be vital.

“In the nonprofit sector, we are constantly looking for ways to meet the budget,” she said. “What may sound very small in our budget is actually huge, because we have to get that money from somewhere. We spend most of the year raising the money to meet the budget.”

A budget document for Turning Point predicts the shelter will have a 2017-18 surplus of just $207.

Community shelter

Most of the funding for Turning Point is returned to the community, Reed said.

The lion’s share, over $425,000, goes to payroll for local employees, according to the budget.

Tens of thousands go to client expenses, and tens of thousands more go to utilities and maintenance contractors.

“We spend roughly $11,000 a year just at Walmart,” Reed said.

The Warrenton Board of Aldermen met with Reed Dec. 5 to discuss the funding request.

Mayor Eric Schleuter said unfortunately, there won’t be an immediate answer. The issue of how much money a city can collect from court fees became more complicated after the major controversy in Ferguson several years ago, he said.

The city would have to be sure it could legally make the increase that Turning Point is asking for, he said.

But Schleuter said he sees the need for the work that Turning Point does.

“The vast majority of people out there don’t understand the programs that are offered, the help and after care that is given, as well as the immediate care that is given,” Schleuter said.

Ward 1 Alderman Greg Costello said Turning Point’s service provides a valuable resource to community law enforcement and to victims, who he said shouldn’t have to be turned away when they seek shelter from abuse.

Ward 2 Alderman Gary Auch said Warrenton doesn’t spend much on social services, compared to other municipalities.

“I know there’s these people who say that shouldn’t be the role of government, it should be the role of church or private citizens,” Auch said. “But the reality is, as the community grows, we have to step up to the plate and think about what our role is in providing support . . . because it’s not something as a community you want to ignore.”

Once victims are in the shelter, Reed said staff can help them find a stable home, and begin to find help for any health or addiction problems.

Employment for victims also tends to stabilize once they are in shelter, Reed said, and children at the shelter improve their school attendance and grades.

Turning Point also takes in a number of victims from surrounding counties, in order to give them a safe environment farther away from abuse.

Editor’s note: Record Managing Editor Kate Miller is a member of Turning Point’s board of directors.