At Stepping Stone Emergency Housing, we have long been committed to empowering individuals experiencing homelessness to regain stability and independence. Now, with the introduction of our new Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program, we are taking that commitment a step further, ensuring that our residents not only find housing but have the support they need to thrive and maintain stable housing after they leave our shelter.

HSS is an innovative program funded through medical assistance (MA), and it represents a significant milestone in our mission to prevent homelessness and foster long-term success for our residents. This blog will provide a comprehensive overview of the HSS program and how it works, highlighting why it’s a game changer for both our residents and our community.

What Is Housing Stabilization Services (HSS)?

Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) is a unique program designed to provide ongoing support to individuals who are transitioning from homelessness into permanent housing. Funded through Minnesota’s medical assistance program, HSS is available to individuals who meet specific criteria, including having MA coverage and a qualifying disability—whether that’s physical, mental health-related, or related to substance use.

The primary focus of HSS is twofold: helping individuals overcome barriers to securing housing and, crucially, supporting them in maintaining that housing for the long term. It’s essentially a continuation of case management, but with a specialized focus on housing-related needs.

Our Program Manager, Dani Pappas, explained it best: “HSS is like extra case management support. It allows us to zero in on housing-related barriers like evictions, credit issues, or finding employment. Once our residents secure housing, we continue to support them to ensure they’re successful in their new environment.”

Transition and Sustain: The Two Pillars of HSS

The HSS program at Stepping Stone is structured around two key phases:

  1. Transition Phase: This initial phase focuses on removing barriers to housing. Whether it’s helping residents resolve issues related to evictions, poor credit, unemployment, or navigating housing searches, our HSS team provides hands-on support to guide individuals through the often-complicated process of finding stable housing. In many cases, these barriers are what prevent individuals from securing housing on their own, and this phase is crucial in addressing those challenges head-on.
  2. Sustain Phase: The second phase kicks in after the resident has moved into permanent housing. In this phase, the HSS team continues to work with residents to ensure their housing stability. This support can range from connecting individuals with community resources (such as transportation or food shelves) to helping them manage utility bills or landlord relations. The goal is to make sure that residents have the tools and resources they need to sustain their housing long-term, reducing the chances of them returning to homelessness.

As Dani noted, “It helps make sure people are doing well so we don’t end up seeing them again here, and they’re successful in their housing.”

How HSS Complements Our Existing Case Management

At Stepping Stone, we’ve always prided ourselves on the strength of our case management program. However, with two case managers serving 66 residents, the caseloads are understandably large. This often means that while our case managers provide crucial support during a resident’s time in the shelter, their ability to offer ongoing assistance once residents move into permanent housing is limited.

HSS fills this gap by allowing for smaller caseloads and more focused, individualized support. Dani pointed out, “Our HSS workers have more time and support to really dive into those housing-related barriers, which is something our case managers might not have the time for.”

Additionally, while our traditional case management services typically end once a resident leaves the shelter, HSS allows us to continue providing support well after that transition has occurred. This ensures that residents are not left to navigate the challenges of permanent housing alone.

The Benefits of In-House HSS Services

Before launching our in-house HSS program, we partnered with external organizations to connect our residents with housing stabilization services. While these partnerships were valuable, there were limitations. Often, when a resident left Stepping Stone, we lost contact with them, and the handoff to external providers could sometimes be challenging.

Now, by having HSS in-house, we can maintain relationships with residents as they transition into permanent housing. This continuity of care is essential for building trust and ensuring that residents feel comfortable reaching out for help when they need it.

Dani shared how important this familiarity is: “It’s nice that we have HSS here in-house because the residents get to know us while they’re still here. There’s a level of comfort in working with someone they’ve seen around, rather than someone new from outside Stepping Stone.”

Data-Driven Impact

One of the most exciting aspects of the HSS program is the potential for long-term data tracking. In the past, it was difficult for us to monitor what happened to residents after they left the shelter. With HSS, we now have the opportunity to gather meaningful data on housing stability, recidivism rates, and long-term outcomes for our residents.

We anticipate that this data will provide valuable insights into how effective HSS is in preventing residents from returning to homelessness and help us fine-tune our services to better meet their needs.

Looking to the Future

As we continue to grow our HSS team and expand the program, we’re excited about the potential it has to make a lasting difference in the lives of our residents. Housing stabilization is a vital component of breaking the cycle of homelessness, and we believe that Stepping Stone is uniquely positioned to administer this program with the compassion, expertise, and dedication it requires.

Dani summed it up perfectly: “This is a service that’s going to help us maintain sustainability for people when they leave here. It’s something we’ve never had before, and it’s going to make sure that people are successful in their new housing and not repeating back at the shelter.”

By offering ongoing support, addressing the root causes of housing instability, and ensuring that our residents have the resources they need to succeed, we believe that HSS will be a game changer for our community. At Stepping Stone, we are committed to helping our residents not only find housing but build lasting, stable lives beyond our shelter walls.

We look forward to sharing more success stories as HSS continues to make a positive impact in the lives of those we serve.