Our Mission: Providing Housing Access
Our housing scholarship program opens doors for men from underserved communities who need a safe and stable place to live. Unlike costly facilities that turn people away for lack of funds, Step One offers housing support to those with no immediate income or resources.
Through the scholarship program, residents receive a furnished room, basic necessities, and the time and structure needed to regain stability. By removing financial barriers, we create a path for residents to focus on employment, rebuilding their lives, and moving toward independent living.
Upon admission to our program, clients sign and commit to a ninety-day contract agreeing to perform volunteer labor at our various contracted work sites. We screen them for experience, knowledge, skills abilities, as well as various trade specialties. They are strategically matched and assigned to job sites where they will thrive in their performance. Some of the work venues may include but are not limited to, skilled construction, landscaping, demolition, and trade gopher. We actively continue the growth of our scholarship program so that we can expand our outreach within our surrounding communities for those in need of our programs and services. Our growth has encompassed many new types of work such as sporting event concession stands as cashiers, cooks, parking and sanitation, dishwashing, prep cooking, and telemarketing.
Upon completion of their ninety-day contract, our Transitional Living program offers many options to our clients. Many are offered direct employment through the job sites where they volunteered, others become gainfully employed through other workforce options, and others re-sign another scholarship contract. Those who become employed have the option to become a paying client either on our main campus or in a ¾ house, while others feel ready to move forward into traditional independent living.
At Step One, clients find our staff to be competent, compassionate, and relatable. Every staff member initially arrived at Step One as a client struggling and in need of assistance. Most of them began their journey through the Scholarship Program. Without this program, they would not be celebrating the many successes that they do today. They chose to remain as volunteers to pass on to others what had been so generously given to them.
Purpose of the Scholarship Program
The housing scholarship program exists to reduce financial barriers for individuals in transition. It provides up to 90 days of stable housing so residents can focus on rebuilding their lives without the immediate stress of rent.
The program is designed to:
- Offer a safe place to live while residents organize their next steps.
- Allow time to secure income, strengthen life skills, and connect with community resources.
- Support a smoother transition into independent living.
By covering housing costs during this period, the program gives residents the stability and structure needed to prepare for long-term success.
How You Can Help?
In the past year, Step One has provided housing and support to hundreds of men in transition. Many residents secured steady jobs, maintained employment, and moved on to independent living.
For just $25 per day, your sponsorship can cover the cost of one resident’s housing. Contributions directly support safe living spaces, utilities, and the day-to-day costs of maintaining our homes. Many community partners have also hired scholarship residents full-time after their housing term, helping them take the next step toward independence.
Your sponsorship is tax-deductible and directly impacts the lives of those striving for stability and a fresh start.
