San Bernardino County

Step Up’s Inland Empire supportive housing programs began in October 2016, first serving San Bernardino County and expanding to Riverside County a year later. Services in both counties continue to grow.

Supportive housing provides a foundation of recovery for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, mental health conditions, and addictions. Without housing, many are trapped in a cycle of surviving on the street, being admitted to hospitals, shelters, or jails, and then returning to the street. The stress of this cycle takes a tremendous toll on both psychiatric and physical health. As one client shared, “Living in the street—it makes you crazy.”

Step Up’s approach respects that individuals are the best judges of their own needs and goals. The number one request members make isn’t a pill or a program—it’s a place to live.

In the Inland Empire, Step Up partners with property managers and landlords who open doors to this population. Once housed, members receive supportive case management to help them succeed, including assistance with public benefits, counseling, substance use recovery support, and connections to community resources.