Step Up’s Programs & Services in San Bernardino County

Step Up’s Inland Empire Housing First Programs began in October 2016. The first year of funding served San Bernardino County, and Riverside County was added one year later. Services in both counties continue to expand.

Housing First, established by Dr. Sam Tsemberis, is a model which roots permanent supportive housing as a foundation of recovery for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, mental health conditions, and addictions. Traditionally, these individuals have lived in a cycle of surviving on the street, being admitted to hospitals, shelters, or jails and then going back to the street. The stress of surviving each day in this cycle puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the individual’s psychiatric and physical health. “Living in the street,” one client said, “It makes you crazy.”

Instead, Housing First advocates the provision of client-preferred services based on the premise that individuals know what is best for themselves, that services are to be directed by an individual’s self-determined goals. The number one supportive service requested by Step Up members is housing. Not a pill, a program, or a protocol, but a place to live.

Step Up’s Inland Empire Housing First Team works with property management companies and landlords who are willing to engage with Step Up to rent to the homeless population. Once an individual is in housing, service teams provide supportive case management services to ensure success. These services include assisting in securing public benefits (Social Security income, food stamps, etc.), counseling, substance use recovery support and linking to community resources.

SEEKING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING?

Access to Step Up’s programs and services comes by referral from each of the Inland Empire’s County offices.

In San Bernardino County, call 211
If you are homeless, you can call 2-1-1 and speak to someone who should be able to direct you to shelters or other homeless services and make a referral to start the permanent supportive housing process.

For more information on Step Up’s Inland Empire Housing First program, contact (909) 361-2104

Permanent Supportive Housing Locations in the Inland Empire

Step Up in Redlands

Opened in 2022, Step Up in Redlands provides 100 units of permanent supportive housing in San Bernardino County in the Inland Empire of Southern California.

Step Up in San Bernardino

Step Up in San Bernardino is a motel conversion project that now offers 76 units of permanent supportive housing. Through Project Homekey funding, the property