Our Progress: First Step Communities in 2023

OUR PROGRESS

FIRST STEP COMMUNITIES IN 2023 CREATING INTERIM HOUSING AND EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHERE 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 GROVE Sleeping cabin community, providing emergency bridge housing for transitional age youth ages 18-24. We work in partnership with SHRA, as well as the pastor of St. Paul's Church of God in Christ.

This was our first full year with 50 sleeping cabins and we accomplished a lot! We introduced Adopt a Cabin, to help foster a sense of home for our participants. We are delighted to share that all 50 cabins found adoptive sponsors for the entire year of 2024. Thank you to everyone who adopted, with special thanks to HomeAid and Northern California Construction Training (NCCT) for sponsoring this project.

We expanded our support for mental health by partnering with Life Practice Counseling Group for on-site individual and group therapy.

Recognizing the challenges individuals face in accessing adequate and timely mental health support, our aim was to provide immediate and crisis-oriented services to our clients. This year, an encouraging 70% of those engaging in on-site therapy successfully transitioned to permanent housing, highlighting the profound impact of these essential services. We strengthened connections with community mental health organizations like Turning Point and Capital Star, creating more space for collaboration and on-site meetings with clients.

63% reported a mental health disorder

43% reported a history of DV, trafficking or assault

28% reported chronic homelessness

To improve healthcare access, we partnered with Wellness without Walls (W3), a mobile health clinic, providing on-site services monthly. Our community partnerships thrived. Supporting Community Connections brought a weekly mental health group on-site. Formal agreements were established with Waking the Village and 3Strands, and we collaborated with the Health Education Council, sending participants to a 6-week paid construction program at Sierra College. A job fair with 12 community partners took place on-site, and Paul Mitchell students frequently visited to offer fresh haircuts.

We created a computer lab in the community room, providing increased access to employment and education opportunities. This addition further supports our commitment to empowering individuals in their journey towards stability.

This year, 41% of participants left to permanent housing. Our Ready to Rent program continued, with 41 participants obtaining their Ready to Rent Certificate.

2024 ADOPT A CABIN SPONSORS: Gold Sponsors HomeAid U.S. Bank Life Practice Counseling Group Anonymous “Caring Community Member” Bronze Sponsors The Greater Sacramento Chapter of Freedom From Religion Foundation Judy Saint and Kathy Johnson William and Naomi DeFazio and Family The Kunstler Family Charlotte Studio 81 Kerrin and Brent West Adam Berman and Claire Thomas Ron Javor First Step Communities’ Staff Anonymous “Fairy God Mother” Anonymous “Pura Vida” Anonymous “Things are looking up” Anonymous “Caring Community Member” Anonymous “Caring Community Member” Anonymous “Caring Community Members” Sponsored In Memory Of WHS Jack and Barbara Bowen Follow along as we make Adopt a Cabin improvements in 2024!

NORTH A STREET 80-bed adult shelter that operates with the collaborative support of the Sacramento County Department of Homeless Services and Housing.

Throughout this year, our commitment to transforming North A into more than just a shelter remained unwavering. We created impactful community partnerships that are truly changing lives. Life Practice Counseling Group now offers weekly Dialectical Behavioral (DBT) Groups on-site, providing valuable mental health support.

42% of those who’ve attended DBT groups have already transitioned to permanent housing. The Sacramento County Probation's weekly on-site services made it feasible for individuals facing significant barriers to check in with probation.

Willow Clinic, a team of UC Davis medical students, began operating a free medical clinic within our building every Saturday, extending essential healthcare services to everyone experiencing homelessness in the River District. 41% of those who connected with Willow Clinic transitioned into permanent housing. Our team of case managers brought diverse weekly groups—covering art, substance use disorder, positive development, and peer support—to create a supportive environment.

66% reported a mental health disorder

44% reported a history of DV, trafficking or assault

61% reported chronic homelessness

Blue Shield employees generously volunteered their time for a beautification project, preparing our outdoor space for spring gardening. This initiative aims to bring more supportive spaces to our clients.

In our ongoing efforts to eliminate barriers, we implemented a landline in one of our buildings accessible to those unsheltered. This phone facilitates easier connections to essential community services and is part of our Sanitation Program, providing access to phone charging, restrooms, and a computer lab for those without shelter.

Our first annual Health Fair, conducted in partnership with the River District PBID and sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, featured 21 community organizations showcasing their services. We served over 200 hundred of our most vulnerable population and connected them to essential services. The River District has a high population of chronic and episodic homelessness and we believe it's critical that we lead more collaboration and bring more support to the River District. We look forward to hosting this event again in the spring of 2024.

Ensuring safety, we operated a warming and cooling center in our administrative building. Additionally, the Elica Mobile Clinic and Sacramento County HEART continued to bring vital medical and mental health services on-site, and we express gratitude for their continued support.

This year, 26% left to permanent housing and an additional 9% left to temporary housing.

SAFEGROUND Safe camping and safe parking program, operated in partnership with the City of Sacramento, that fills the gap between the high demand for shelter and the shortage in housing resources.

SafeGround underwent significant changes this year, and we are immensely grateful for the unwavering flexibility and support demonstrated by our team, partners, and community. Early in the year, Miller Park SafeGround had to close due to severe weather conditions. Prompt collaboration with the City of Sacramento, Sacramento County and our team ensured the opening of an emergency facility at Cal Expo and the swift placement of willing participants indoors. Shortly thereafter, we celebrated the opening of the Mobile Temporary Shelter in Auburn, marking an exciting chapter of collaboration with and service to the Placer County community. In June, we transitioned away from the Mobile Temporary Shelter and reopened Miller Park SafeGround.

One highlight was the establishment of a new partnership with Wellness without Walls and Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, providing monthly visits for medical services and breakfast—an invaluable resource for our participants. Additionally, Elica Vet Services extended their support, offering services for our furry friends.

Sacramento County HEART continued their weekly visits, conducting essential mental health assessments.

SafeGround has been a vital first step for those who may be hesitant to seek shelter for various reasons. It has proven to be a source of support, allowing the building of trust, the formation of community, and the rekindling of hope. We appreciate the opportunity to approach individuals with compassion and provide the necessary support right where they are.

65% reported a mental health disorder

60% reported a developmental or physical disability

65% reported chronic homelessness

Our community demonstrated incredible generosity by consistently offering support to SafeGround participants. Greenhaven Church, in particular, remained steadfast in providing weekly bagels and bi-weekly Bible studies. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints not only cooked a wonderful holiday breakfast for the second year but also mobilized their community to donate essential items—a gesture for which we are immensely thankful. Sacramento Friends Community Church donated several times throughout the year, which helped greatly with our efforts.

We are thrilled to share that approximately 34% of participants exited to indoor shelter or permanent housing.

A special acknowledgment goes to Safe Choice Security for their daily dedication, and we want to highlight Forenisclean for the exceptional work they do.

For more information on what's next for SafeGround, please read 'Our Vision for 2024'.

WARMING CENTER Providing a safe place to sleep for those unsheltered during severe weather conditions in partnership with Sacramento County.

In November, in partnership with Sacramento County DHSH, we launched a warming center at our North A Street administrative building. Converting our computer lab and case management spaces, we equipped the center with sleeping cots to accommodate those in need. Towards the end of December, we transitioned operations to the Warren E Thornton Youth Center Gym, expanding our capacity. As we move forward, we will continue operating the warming center into 2024, serving up to 50+ a night.

THE GIVING MACHINE This year, we proudly participated in The Giving Machine at Westfield Galleria at Roseville, sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. With a grand total of $16,848, our community donated 23 laundry vouchers, 345 fresh start kits, 12 kitchen starter kits, 234 packs of underwear, and 157 winter coats. We are genuinely grateful for this incredible support and collaboration.

Special thanks to Brad and Karen Wilkes, members of the church, for their outstanding support and impactful work in our community.

Looking forward to achieving more together next year!

THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS Thank you to each of our board members for your unwavering commitment to supporting First Step Communities. Your invaluable support has been instrumental in our achievements this year. We deeply appreciate your dedication and contributions to our mission.

Bill Knowlton Board President

Brian Ridgway Treasurer

Kerrin West Secretary

Adam Berman

Diane Wolfe

Ron Javor

REMEMBERING THOSE WE LOST As we reflect on the past year, we take a moment to remember and honor those we lost while grappling with the challenges of homelessness. Though their presence is deeply missed, their enduring impact will always remain in our hearts, inspiring us to do more.

OUR VISION FOR 2024

THE GROVE Get ready for an exciting year of improvements with the Adopt a Cabin project! We're committed to keeping you in the loop every step of the way. Adoption opportunities for 2025 are just around the corner, so be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media for the latest updates.

NORTH A STREET We will be hosting our second Health Fair and putting together our first job fair at North A. We look forward to bringing more collaboration and new initiatives to the River District. Blue Shield volunteers will join us in spring to put the finishing touches on our gardening project. Life Practice will begin providing individual therapy in addition to group therapy. We can't wait to share all the exciting events and improvements!

SAFEGROUND Big changes ahead! Miller Park SafeGround is transitioning to a new chapter. We're thrilled to announce the launch of Roseville Road Campus, a pallet home and trailer site in collaboration with the City of Sacramento. Current SafeGround residents will be offered a bed at this upgraded facility and Miller Park SafeGround will permanently close. We can't wait to share more details about this project and how you can play a part in it. Stay tuned for more information!

NEW CAMPUS We are collaborating with the state, county, and city to develop an innovative cabin campus in South Sacramento, strategically co-located with a healthcare provider. This facility aims to offer shelter and essential services to a maximum of 175 individuals.

More updates coming soon.

DIGNITY MOVES We have teamed up with Dignity Moves, a nonprofit developer who has built many cabin communities in California, and are working on current and future proposals. We are excited to see what we can accomplish together.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR During 2023, First Step Communities was able to take major strides toward a key objective. First, our efforts to bring sheltering services closer together with medical and behavioral health was boosted by collaborative partnerships with Willow Clinic, Life Practice and Wellness Without Walls. The trend is continuing, currently we are working on a 175-bed cabin site collocated with a healthcare provider and we are taking a close look at potentially becoming a CalAIM provider. In 2024 we will continue these and many other efforts. We expect to see continued expansion of our services in 2024, increasing the number of clients we can bring our special brand of caring to.

-Stephen Watters

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS & DONORS

FIRST STEP COMMUNITIES - RIVER DISTRICT HEALTH FAIR Gratitude to all who participated in our first annual First Step Communities - River District Health Fair! Your presence made it a resounding success. We eagerly anticipate welcoming you back in 2024.

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