TOPSS meets increased demand for services, director says in annual update
TOPSS provided food to nearly 3500 people and kept more than 100 households in their homes through rent and utility assistance last year.
The Talawanda Oxford Pantry and Social Services (TOPSS) served 38% more households in 2024 than the previous year.
During an annual update to Oxford City Council April 15, TOPSS Executive Director Sherry Martin shared that the organization served more than 1400 households and individuals last year, up from just over 1000 in 2023. Last spring, TOPSS officially merged with the Family Resource Center to centralize resources for low-income families.
Through the organization’s efforts, Martin said they were able to keep 134 households within their homes. In partnership with local churches, TOPSS spent an average of $462 per household on rent and utility assistance to keep people housed. That’s compared to more than $1400 spent per household to support homeless people with this year’s cold shelter, which operated when nighttime temperatures didn’t rise above freezing.
“Preventing an eviction is far cheaper than rehousing,” Martin said. The organization spent more than $41,000 to keep 29 households sheltered this winter, providing 539 cumulative nights of stay. This January was particularly frigid in Oxford, driving up the need for warm shelter.
In total, TOPSS fed nearly 3500 people and made more than 2800 home deliveries last year.
Oxford has allocated $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to TOPSS to construct a new one-stop social services facility. TOPSS is planning to go out to bid for construction on the facility this spring and break ground in June, Martin said.
