Finding Hope: The Journey Out of Homelessness Through Time and Community

At First Step Communities, we believe that the longer we work with shelter participants, the more successful their outcomes will be. The individuals in this photo exemplify the benefits of extended support.

In May of 2023, they entered our Miller Park SafeGround Program. This initiative, operated in partnership with The City of Sacramento, provided a safe tent and trailer site with supportive services and 24/7 staff. One participant had experienced homelessness for nearly 10 years, and the other for 7 years. Their decision to seek shelter marked a significant milestone, given their hesitation to traditional shelters due to past traumas.

With consistent sleep, meals, and support, they began to transition out of survival mode. The constant anxiety about their belongings being stolen or where they would sleep each night started to fade. Gradually, they found the mental space to think about their steps out of homelessness.

At the beginning of the year, we relocated operations from Miller Park SafeGround to Roseville Road Campus. This new site featured pallet shelters and travel trailers, along with increased supportive services. For those experiencing homelessness, familiarity and community are crucial for survival. Trusting our organization and transitioning to a new area was a significant risk for them.

They chose to continue their shelter journey at the new site, and we were honored to support them. They became more than clients; they became part of our community. Creating and feeling safe within a community takes time, but it is one of the most impactful things we have witnessed.

One of their greatest challenges was finding hope that homelessness wouldn't be their forever. Staying in a safe place for a long enough time allowed them to access this hope again and believe that change is possible.

After over a year with us, they moved into their apartment together. They shared their excitement about creating a home of their own and the steps they would continue to take forward.

They said, “I think homeless people are some of the strongest people.” We wholeheartedly agree. We believe that those we work with deserve the time and support needed so they can move away from survival mode and can instead find peace and stability.