Sacramento Steps Forward (SSF)

Homeless Response System Planning Designated by the community as the Sacramento City and County Continuum of Care (CoC) lead agency to receive U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding and undertaking planning activities, SSF supports the membership of the CoC board with information, expertise, data, coordination, and recommendations for action. In collaboration with the City of Sacramento, County and CoC we have developed a first ever Local Homelessness Action Plan with a quantifiable gaps analysis that will guide policies and actions for preventing, responding, and resolving homelessness in Sacramento.Despite the Omicron virus, SSF conducted a 2022 Point In Time unsheltered count (PIT) with over 500 volunteers completed a two-day unsheltered Point-in-Time (PIT) Count.

Coordinated Entry & Outreach SSF supports a coordinated approach for accessing services and housing for persons experiencing homelessness. We focus on building equitable access to crisis and housing resources. In addition, we support community-based navigators to match people experiencing homelessness to the best resources available to meet their needs.SSF has added the domestic violence system to the overall coordinated entry system and continues to bring other health Sacramento County Behavioral Health Services to into permanent supportive housing referral processes. Successful launch of the Rapid Access and Problem Solving (RAPS) a CoC-funded pilot project to streamline access to new problem-solving resources led the way to support to expand the front door to ensure more equitable, expedient, and open access for our unhoused neighbors.

Leadership & EngagementAs a leading voice in the Homeless Response System, we have diversified and deepened strategic partnerships with a wide range of Sacramento organizations working to serve people experiencing homelessness. This includes teaming up with a leading research institution to complete our 2022 Point-In-Time Count, working with healthcare entities to bring more integrated system of care, and expanded and improving a countywide coordinated access to homeless resources.We have undertaken an extensive examination of our regions Homeless Response System. This includes mapping the current system, developing a quantifiable system gap analysis and delving into system data with a racial equity lens and evaluating better approaches.We initiated and supported the Sacramento Continuum of Cares (COC) Racial Equity Committee that has been tasked with examining the ways in which Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) experience homelessness and navigate our local homelessness system and are supporting an action plan to guide the decision-making process of the CoC Board over the next three years.