Tracy Pierce’s history with Stepping Stone didn’t begin in housing case management. It began in development. From 2016 to 2019, Tracy served as Stepping Stone’s Development Officer, helping build relationships with donors and share the stories of residents working toward stability. During that time, she got to know the organization from the inside — [...]
When Amanda first offered to cut hair at Stepping Stone Emergency Housing, it seemed like a simple idea. A chair. A cape. A pair of clippers. But what she brings each time she sets up her station is far more than a haircut. For many residents, a fresh haircut marks something deeper. It signals [...]
When Jaquan Denwiddie talks about growth, he does not speak in abstractions. He speaks from experience. Jaquan is the Long Term Housing (LTH) House Manager at Stepping Stone Emergency Housing, and his journey into this role is deeply connected to his own path of becoming more stable, more confident, and more grounded in who [...]
SSEH featured in both the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press for Washington County Shelter Launch We’re incredibly honored to be featured in two major Minnesota news outlets this week—the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press—for our role in launching the new Emergency Housing Services Building in Washington County. This new facility represents more than [...]
When we talk about ending homelessness, it’s easy to think in individual terms—one person finding stability, one family moving into housing, one crisis resolved. But the truth is: real, lasting change happens when a community invests together. What Is Collective Investment? Collective investment isn’t just financial. It’s the shared commitment of a community showing [...]
When people imagine homelessness, they often picture big cities. But in the suburbs, homelessness looks different—and the safety net is much thinner. What is the “Suburban Safety Net”? In rural or urban areas, there are often dedicated shelters, outreach programs, and transit systems connecting people to services. Suburbs, however, were never built with those [...]
When Joan Bednarczyk first got a call from Anoka County social worker Barb Wold in 2010, she had no idea it would spark more than a decade of leadership and community transformation. At the time, Joan was working at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Anoka in social outreach, helping families in need connect with [...]
When I first stepped through Stepping Stone’s doors in 2018, I came simply to help. At the time, I was a business owner looking for ways to give back, to serve others, and to make a difference in my community. I started volunteering at the shelter—helping with meals, connecting with residents, and getting to [...]
