New Homeless Outreach Services Coming to Inland Empire

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Partners with Local Nonprofit Step Up to Transform Lives of Hundreds of Individuals Experiencing Homelessness in the Inland Empire

October 24, 2022 (San Bernardino, Calif.) — New homeless outreach services are coming to parts of San Bernardino and Highland thanks to a partnership between the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and local nonprofit organization Step Up.

As part of its 2022 grant funding cycle, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians awarded Step Up a $250,000 grant to provide comprehensive outreach services to unhoused individuals and families, including those experiencing chronic homelessness and mental health conditions and those living unsheltered in underserved communities.

This funding will enable Step Up to expand outreach efforts to geographic areas near San Manuel tribal land that are not currently covered by existing services. Step Up will provide outreach to engage more than 300 individuals currently experiencing homelessness and mental health conditions and connect them with both housing and comprehensive case management services.

Step Up President and CEO Tod Lipka expressed his excitement for the partnership. “We are grateful to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for their investment in expanding street outreach in San Bernardino and Highland,” said Lipka. “This project is a key component to ending homelessness and will help bring hope and healing to hundreds of our unhoused neighbors in a historically underserved area.”

Step Up currently operates a 76-unit permanent supportive housing development in San Bernardino and has another 100-unit location in Redlands in development, expected to open prior to the holidays. The organization also provides mental health services, chronic disease management, and street outreach in the area. The new outreach program will complement Step Up’s existing services in the Inland Empire.

Step Up is a nationally recognized provider of housing and mental health services. The organization delivers compassionate support to people who are experiencing serious mental health issues, and persons who are experiencing chronic homelessness, to help them recover, stabilize, and integrate into the community. Step Up’s unique approach of providing both permanent housing and rich wraparound support services has resulted in a 98% housing retention rate.

For more information about Step Up’s partnership with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, please contact Lynne Elwan, Chief Development Officer, at 714-713-1126 or lelwan@stepup.org.

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