A 50-year-old organization that is spreading out to provide services around the state has started to help the homeless in Marion County.
Jenny Provo of Marion is currently coordinating the services until a new office opens in Effingham in early March.
“Ultimately we in the deflection program work with law enforcement and community partners,” Provo said. “We help individuals with substance use, mental health, unhoused, identification, helping them sign up for social security benefits. We take them to doctors’ appointments, DHS appointments, we help them sign up for insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Link.”
Provo says they partner with law enforcement, libraries, food pantries, churches, city halls and other to learn of those who need help.
“We come to where they are, and we will help them and do a little assessment. We ask them about their life story almost, like, ‘Tell me what’s going on; how did you guys get to where you are?’ We will assess from there and go through their priorities and goals and what they need to work on. It’s totally voluntary. They do not have to sign up for services with us, but they are totally free services.”
Provo says they have found a need since beginning work in Marion County. She reports 5 to 6 cases in Salem, eight in Centralia, and 8 to 10 that have been reported by the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.
With the new office, Provo says they are looking for more deflection specialists to work with those who are reported in need.
For more information on the work of TASC or to learn more about the job openings, you may visit TASC.org.
The TASC organization is about 50 years old.
