Services to Empower Personal Success (STEPS)

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program (Byrne Discretionary Program) helps local communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and provides for national support efforts. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 08 Congressional Budget. Funds should be used for purposes recommended by Congress.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health will support the Services to Empower Personal Services (STEPS) program. The STEPS program provides 51 units of transitional housing and intensive services to unaccompanied adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and recently discharged from the criminal justice system. The program offers immediate access to stable, supportive transitional housing for homeless ex-offenders, many of whom struggle with medical, psychiatric, and/or substance abuse issues. By improving the health and residential stability of program participants, STEPS reduces the costly and unnecessary incarceration of people living in poverty and struggling with disabilities. The grant funding will offer additional clinical support to STEPS. A nurse practitioner, a registered nurse, and a physician's assistant will bolster already existing primary care and psychiatric care offered to STEPS program participants. A health worker also will assist in providing care to participants.

NCA/NCF