When we picture homelessness, the image that often comes to mind is someone living on a city street, pushing a shopping cart or sleeping in a tent. But homelessness doesn’t always look like that—and increasingly, it doesn’t. In suburban communities across the country, people are experiencing homelessness in cars, motels, or temporarily couch surfing [...]
Behind every warm, nourishing meal served at Stepping Stone is the heart and hustle of our Cafeteria Manager, though he prefers the title “Food Wizard,” Jason Lehmann. With over three decades of experience in food service at Universities, Jason left behind the sprawling commercial kitchens and corporate culture to find purpose in a very [...]
When Chuck Philipsek first got involved with Stepping Stone Emergency Housing, he didn’t step into a boardroom—he stepped into the garden. Answering a call for landscaping help more than three years ago, Chuck offered his skills to refresh the grounds of the shelter. That initial involvement led to a transformative collaboration in 2022, when [...]
When Annette Duffy first walked through the doors of Stepping Stone Emergency Housing, she wasn’t planning a career change. With more than a decade of experience in the medical field, Annette was simply answering a friend’s call to fill a temporary position. She had never worked in a shelter before. “It was a new [...]
“In the midst of famine, there’s feast.” At Stepping Stone Emergency Housing, every team member brings a unique passion to the table—and for our new Volunteer Coordinator, Shvonne Johnson, that passion is service. With 17 years of experience in education at both the university and K–12 levels, Shvonne felt called to pivot her career [...]
Honored for Our Commitment to Housing Justice in Anoka County At Stepping Stone Emergency Housing, our mission has always been rooted in compassion, dignity, and the belief that everyone deserves a safe and stable place to call home. That’s why we are incredibly honored to receive the MICAH Anoka Chapter Hero Award—an acknowledgment of [...]
At Stepping Stone Emergency Housing, leadership is more than just governance—it’s a commitment to compassion, action, and solutions for those experiencing homelessness. Ray Danzl, our Vice Chair, exemplifies that commitment, bringing years of community service, leadership, and a passion for helping others to his role on the board. A Calling to Serve Ray’s journey [...]
At Stepping Stone Emergency Housing, we believe that the smallest acts of kindness can often make the biggest impact. One of our incredible volunteers, Maralynn Scott, embodies this belief through her work with residents as part of the Anoka County SCSEP (Senior Community Service Employment Program). Maralynn first came to Stepping Stone in December [...]
