First Step Housing

FIRST STEP COMMUNITIES WILL CREATE INTERIM HOUSING AND EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. HERE THEY WILL LIVE IN SAFETY AND DIGNITY, RECEIVE THE SERVICES THEY REQUIRE, AND TAKE A FIRST-STEP AWAY FROM HOMELESSNESS TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND PERMANENT HOUSING.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT HAS ESTABLISHED THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL CALLING FOR HOUSING CLIENTS FIRST AND PROVIDING WRAP AROUND SERVICES. THE HUD RECOMMENDED EMPHASIS REMAINS PLACING HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN PERMANENT HOUSING AND COORDINATING ACCESS TO REQUIRED SERVICES.FIRST STEP COMMUNITIES CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THIS MODEL AND ENDEAVORS TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE PRACTICAL APPLICATION. UNFORTUNATELY, THE GAP BETWEEN SECURED FUNDING FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE INCREASING NUMBERS OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS PERSISTED THROUGH 2021. OUR TARGETED POPULATIONS, CHRONICALLY HOMELESS ADULTS, PROVE TO BE THE LEAST LIKELY TO LOCATE HOUSING AND SERVICES. THE OVERALL MISSION OF FIRST STEP COMMUNITIES CONTINUES TO BE TO PROVIDE SHELTER AND SERVICES TO THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION. IN DOING THIS, FSC AND ITS COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS WILL HELP THE TARGET GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THE INTERIM SERVICES PROVIDED. OUR DESIRED OUTCOME REMAINS TO PREPARE THIS POPULATION FOR RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS THAT ALIGN WITH THE HOUSING FIRST MODEL AND PRIORITIZE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO PERMANENT HOUSING.ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2021 INCLUDE:FSC EXPANDED THE NORTH A STREET CAMPUS, SHELTER AND SERVICES (COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO DHA CONTRACT), BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL COLLABORATIVE SERVICE PROVIDERS AND DEVELOPING SOME IN-HOUSE TRAINING WORKSHOPS. CONTINUED TO PROVIDE A 24-HOUR X 365 PROGRAM. LOCATED IN THE RIVER DISTRICT, NORTH A STREET PROVIDES SHELTER AND SERVICES TO 40 MEN AND 40 WOMEN IN A DORMITORY STYLE SHELTER. RESIDENTS IN THE SHELTER ARE OFFERED INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES BY OUR STAFF OF PROFESSIONAL CASE MANAGERS.CONTINUED UTILIZATION AND COLLABORATION WITH ELICA HEALTH, WELLSPACE HEALTH, EL HOGAR AND OTHERS, WE PROVIDE PRIMARY HEALTHCARE AND REFERRALS, MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS AND REFERRALS, AND DENTAL CARE. PARTNERSHIPS WITH WOMEN' S EMPOWERMENT AND WEAVE PROVIDE SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN AND VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IN THE LAST FEW YEARS SEVERAL HUNDRED RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN MOVED INDOORS TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, BOARD AND CARE FACILITIES, SHARED HOUSING AND FAMILY RECONCILIATIONS.FSC ADDED A SANITATION PROGRAM WHICH OPENS THE DOORS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO USE RESTROOM FACILITIES AND PHONE CHARGING 7-DAYS PER WEEK FOR UP TO 15 HOURS DAILY.IMPLEMENTED SPECIAL COVID PRECAUTIONS PROTECTING OUR VULNERABLE CLIENTS FROM OUTBREAKS AND ILLNESS. ADDED VACCINATION CLINICS AND IN-HOUSE TESTING AS SOON AS THESE BECAME AVAILABLE.YEAR TWO AT THE GROVE, EMERGENCY BRIDGE HOUSING AND SERVICES FOR TRANSITION AGE YOUTH (18- 24) (CONTRACT WITH SHRA FOR 2020-2022 OF $2.5M) CONTINUED SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS. LOCATED IN NORTH SACRAMENTO, THE GROVE PROVIDES SHELTER AND SERVICES TO TRANSITIONAL AGE YOUTH (18-24 YEARS OF AGE) IN INDIVIDUAL SLEEPING CABINS. WORKED WITH HOME AID TO MAKE UPGRADES (FLOORING, PAINT, LIGHTING) TO THE CHURCH FACILITY USED AS A COMMON AREA FOR THE GROVE PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM POSITIVELY MOVED 41 YOUTH TO INDOOR SOLUTIONS INCLUDING HOUSING IN 2021 UTILIZING THE RAPID REHOUSING FUND STARTED IN 2020.FSC OPENED A SANCTIONED CAMPING SITE, SAFEGROUND TRIAGE PROGRAM, FOR THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO HOUSING AND PROVIDING UP TO 175 HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AT A TIME DURING 2021. MANY WERE MOVED ON TO INDOOR PROGRAMS AND SOME HOUSED. FSC PROVIDED 3 MEALS/DAY, SHOWERS AD RESTROOMS, AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN THE FIELD. ADDITIONALLY, OPENED A SAFE PARKING PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO SERVING UP TO 35 CLIENTS AT A TIME AND PROVIDING THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICES AS THE SAFEGROUND SITE. RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL ESG GRANT OF $247K FOR ENHANCED SERVICES AT THE NORTH A STREET CAMPUS.FIRST STEP HOUSING (FSC) CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH THE ULI AND AIA TO PROPOSE SEVERAL TYPES OF INTERIM HOUSING AND SERVICE COMMUNITIES TO THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO AND SACRAMENTO COUNTY. FSC CONTINUED WORK WITH THESE EXPERTS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO ENSURE THAT THE DESIGNS REFLECTED WHAT OUR EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN ARE NECESSARY COMPONENTS OF AN INTERIM HOUSING COMMUNITY, INCLUDING PRIVATE SLEEPING, WORKSHOP, PET, DINING, KITCHEN AND RECREATION AREAS. OUR DESIGNS INCLUDED REQUIREMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY LIKE ACCESS CONTROL THROUGH GATED COMMUNITY DESIGN AND SEPARATE AREAS FOR COHORTS OF RESIDENTS WITH COMMON NEEDS AND GOALS. THESE PROPOSALS HAVE HAD A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT THINKING ABOUT POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.