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For those experiencing the loss of a permanent housing situation - for whatever reason - STEP, Inc. (Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission for Community Action) can offer long-term solutions, but, according to CEO and President Rachelle Abbott, they are "not a quick fix."
"Through its service navigation programs, STEP is the 211 coordinated intake walk-in location, the access site, and so anybody who is experiencing homelessness should really get on to 211," Abbott said.
"While most people think of it as a resource and referral, it also acts as basically a database for individuals experiencing homelessness. The key is that by registering with 211 that allows for somebody to then be picked up by one of the housing providers within the community," she said.
She explained that could be done by just calling 211 and registering over the phone or by making an appointment with STEP and they can help navigate the process.
To make it even easier to register, STEP, with the help of the United Way of North Central Pennsylvania and the Homeless Assistance Program funds, has been doing outreach in different locations in the community, such as the James V. Brown Library and River Valley Transit, in order to reach people who may be experiencing homelessness.
"So last year, we actually were going to Code Blue twice a week or multiple times a week to be able to get people onto 211 to provide case management and various things like that. And then in addition, we were actually going to the library at that time too, particularly over the winter months," she explained.
Because of the grant from the United Way, STEP will continue that outreach this winter.
"We're meeting people where they are and really helping to get them connected to the services within our community," Abbott said.
As of Thursday, there were 150 individuals in Lycoming County in the 211 continuum of care queue, Abbott said. She qualified that by saying that doesn't mean those individuals are living on the street, but it can be anyone who is experiencing homelessness.
"It looks different for various people," she said.
According to STEP, literal homelessness is defined as: a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place, not meant for human habitation; living in a shelter designed for temporary living arrangements; or is exiting an institution where a person has resided for 90 or less and who has resided in an emergency shelter of place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering the institution.
Also, those fleeing domestic violence or attempting to flee, who have no other residence and lack the resources or support to obtain other permanent housing are considered homeless.
Abbott noted that there were also 64 individuals on the list who are homeless somewhere else and said they would come to Lycoming County if there was availability.
Another STEP program, the Rapid Rehousing program, actually picks individuals from the queue to try to get them into apartments.
"The Rapid Rehousing Program basically is coordinating with landlords, coordinating with individuals to get them to where they need to be to be able to have a kind of a trajectory of support over time that we can get them into an apartment and hopefully get them stabilized," "Through that rapid rehousing, we're working with them on those other things. So is it income? Is it employment? What are the other things? So we're looking at that whole family and that whole family approach to stabilizing housing. But it is not a quick fix. It is a commitment to that intensive case management, " she said.
There are also situations where individuals could be better helped through other program partners or the best option may be that they move back with a family member somewhere else.
"We help those conversations and get folks to whatever is best for them and their family," she said.
Abbott explained how the 211 continuum of care list is derived. She also stressed that STEP does not get to choose who they take off that list.
"To get on the list, it's basically like a ranking. There's a preference if they're fleeing domestic violence. There's a preference for various issues. It gives you higher points, and then they come off of that list based on those points. The higher the points, the more barriers they may have. So it may take even longer. Maybe there's mental health or other things as part of it. It's a very complicated system, in terms of that continuum of care, the 211 system. But it is active and functioning here, but it is not an immediate fix," she said.
Sometimes there is another STEP program that might be a better fit in helping someone who is homeless.
If someone is homeless, who may have a lot of barriers and they just can't connect with a landlord, the Master Leasing Program might solve the issue.
"The individuals that we've had come through this program, many of them are employed, but for one reason or another, they haven't been able to secure housing. They lost their housing stability, and so we work with them and the groups of landlords that we have, to help them make those connections, and then we actually support that person with that intensive case management, so that eventually they're taking on that lease," she said.
The Master Leasing Program has been funded in the past through Lycoming County PHARE (Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement) funds.
STEP also offers the Supportive Housing Program for people who have been self-sufficient, but because of a major crisis in their lives they need help.
"So think of a car wreck, a death in a family, a cancer diagnosis, out of work because of medical reasons, all those things. One of those things happens to you, it becomes a crisis, and so this program helps support individuals through those time frames by providing case management, by providing some stability by helping support either mortgage or rent. Oftentimes help with utilities is needed to be able to get that person back to stability. And that's really where it needs to be. It needs to be back to stability," Abbott said.
"So, depending on where somebody is in their journey, a different program may be best for them. But none of them are immediate because we have to make connections to landlords and all those pieces. And so, we're typically trying to take people out of the shelters and getting them into more stable housing," she said.
STEP's service navigators will be at the James V. Brown Library, 19 East Fourth St., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays to help people connect to resources. Fridays, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. they will be at the Trade and Transit Centre II, 144 West Third St.
Potential customers can always call STEP at: 570-326-0587 to make an appointment, or use the online application on their website at: www.stepcorp.org.