First Step 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 (fsc) continues to support the hud 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 again through 2022. 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 many 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. Fsc has increased its emphasis on bringing shelter and healthcare services models together to address the growing behavioral health and substance use disorder crisis. Accomplishments in 2022 include:fsc emphasis and growth during 2022 was in the area of expanding collaborative services as the covid pandemic started to wind down. However, the number one effort was to keep all clients, many medically vulnerable, safe from the pandemic. Plans to test, handle outbreaks and work with sacramento county department of health services were in effect and constantly monitored for needed adjustments. At 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 continues to be a priority. At the grove - emergency bridge Housing for transition age youth, plans were initiated to expand the site from 24 cabins to 50 by 2023. Ground was broken before the end of the year and efforts began on development. At the safeground sacramento facility, the site was relocated to a more appropriate site in miller park. The sanctioned tent encampment was fenced and gated, protecting residents from unwelcome guests. At all fsc facilities, we continued to provide a 24-hour x 365 programs with shelter, case management and collaborative partners. All sites provide meals, showers and sanitation.