VISION
Step Up envisions a world in which all individuals, families, and communities affected by serious mental health conditions and persons who are experiencing chronic homelessness will have the opportunity to experience recovery and a sense of belonging, and that supportive housing will be available to everyone.
MISSION
Step Up delivers compassionate support to people experiencing serious mental health issues, and persons who are experiencing chronic homelessness, to help them recover, stabilize, and integrate into the community. Through dynamic partnerships, we provide positive social and learning environments, vocational training, supportive housing opportunities, and recovery services to empower individuals to cultivate lives of hope and dignity. We exercise innovative leadership and advocacy to increase public understanding, support, and acceptance of all people living with serious mental health issues.
OVERVIEW OF STEP UP
Step Up, a 501(c)(3) organization, began providing psychosocial rehabilitation and support in 1984 when a woman sought urgently needed mental health services for her loved one. Finding none, and dissatisfied with the status quo, Susan Dempsay took action and started a center offering services that could not be found anywhere else.
Her vision included a supportive environment with productive activities, including art therapies, supported employment training, coping skills, service coordination, and social connectedness. Family members accessed help through support groups that met every month. Initially, Step Up served approximately 10 individuals a day and offered a limited number of services.
Staff began observing that many Step Up members were experiencing homelessness, which complicated and exacerbated their already complex needs. In 1994, Step Up’s first supportive housing community with 36 units was built. Some of the original tenants are still living in their units today.
Step Up currently provides housing to more than 7,500 individuals and families in supportive housing developments and scattered apartments throughout California, Georgia, and Tennessee. Additional units are in development as we continue to expand access to housing and mental health services.
What started humbly in a warehouse shell in Santa Monica is now a thriving community agency with hundreds of staff serving thousands of individuals…
STEP UP'S CORE VALUES
HOPE
We believe all people have the capacity for positive growth and change. We use hope to inspire and motivate ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.
RESPECT
We believe in promoting interactions that are non-judgmental, transparent, and authentic. We use respect to guide all of our words and actions with ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.
COLLABORATIVE
RELATIONSHIPS
We believe in forming partnerships to share resources, knowledge, and experiences. We use collaborative relationships to strengthen accomplishments for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.
WELLNESS
We believe in promoting a culture that supports healthy and fulfilling lives. We use a supportive environment to foster wellbeing for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.
VOICE &
CHOICE
We believe in the right to choose and be heard. We use voice and choice to create meaningful outcomes and empowerment for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.
VISION
Step Up envisions a world in which all individuals, families, and communities affected by serious mental health conditions and persons who are experiencing chronic homelessness will have the opportunity to experience recovery and a sense of belonging, and that supportive housing will be available to everyone.
MISSION
Step Up delivers compassionate support to people experiencing serious mental health issues, and persons who are experiencing chronic homelessness, to help them recover, stabilize, and integrate into the community.
Through dynamic partnerships, we provide positive social and learning environments, vocational training, supportive housing opportunities, and recovery services to empower individuals to cultivate lives of hope and dignity.
We exercise innovative leadership and advocacy to increase public understanding, support, and acceptance of all people living with serious mental health issues.
FROM MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, TO LASTING HOUSING SOLUTIONS
OUR STORY
Founded in 1984, Step Up began when Susan Dempsay searched for urgently needed mental health services for a loved one and found too few options. Dissatisfied with the status quo, she took action and created a center offering compassionate support that was not available anywhere else.
Susan’s vision was a welcoming, supportive community where people could access psychosocial rehabilitation, art therapy, supported employment training, coping skills, service coordination, and meaningful social connection. In its earliest days, Step Up served about 10 people each day with a limited number of services.
Step Up expanded its mission to include permanent supportive housing. In 1994, Step Up opened its first supportive housing community with 36 homes, creating a foundation for long-term stability and recovery. Some of the original residents still live there today, a powerful reminder of what donor support can make possible.
What started humbly in a warehouse shell in Southern California, Step Up is now a thriving national agency with hundreds of staff serving thousands of individuals and families.
Tod Lipka, President & CEO
OUR GROWING IMPACT
Step Up currently provides housing to more than 8,100 individuals and families in supportive housing developments and apartments throughout California, Georgia, and Tennessee. Additional units are in development as we continue to expand access to housing and mental health services.
OUR GROWING IMPACT
Step Up currently provides housing to more than 8,100 individuals and families in supportive housing developments and apartments throughout California, Georgia, and Tennessee. Additional units are in development as we continue to expand access to housing and mental health services.
What started humbly in a warehouse shell in Southern California, Step Up is now a thriving national agency with hundreds of staff serving thousands of individuals and families.
President & CEO
INDIVIDUALS HOUSED*
OVER THE YEARS
Our housing journey began with just 36 units at Step Up on Second in 1994
*Individuals Housed: In 23–24, Step Up opened multiple new PSH developments, which resulted in significantly more individuals being housed. In 24–25, significant program expansions—primarily in Sacramento and the Inland Empire—resulted in significantly more individuals being housed. Step Up also gained visibility into the total number of family members housed, resulting in a substantial increase in housing data.
*Individuals Housed: In 23–24, Step Up opened multiple new PSH developments, which resulted in significantly more individuals being housed. In 24–25, significant program expansions—primarily in Sacramento and the Inland Empire—resulted in significantly more individuals being housed. Step Up also gained visibility into the total number of family members housed, resulting in a substantial increase in housing data.
OUR CORE VALUES
HOPE
We believe all people have the capacity for positive growth and change. We use hope to inspire and motivate ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.
RESPECT
We believe in promoting interactions that are non-judgmental, transparent, and authentic. We use respect to guide all of our words and actions with ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.
COLLABORATIVE
RELATIONSHIPS
We believe in forming partnerships to share resources, knowledge, and experiences. We use collaborative relationships to strengthen accomplishments for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.
WELLNESS
We believe in promoting a culture that supports healthy and fulfilling lives. We use a supportive environment to foster wellbeing for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.
VOICE &
CHOICE
We believe in the right to choose and be heard. We use voice and choice to create meaningful outcomes and empowerment for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.