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 — its mission, its structure, and the people it serves.

Eventually, she felt drawn toward more direct service. She left Stepping Stone to work directly with individuals navigating housing instability and later formed her own company, Acorn Housing Services. Through Acorn, she provided Housing Stabilization Services and housing support for dozens of individuals in Sherburne County.

In 2024, she partnered with Stepping Stone again — this time helping the organization establish its own Housing Stabilization Services program.

Then the state shut that program down.

When Minnesota discontinued Housing Stabilization Services amid fraud investigations, providers across the region were left trying to figure out what came next. Tracy had nearly 40 individuals housed through that program. Without a way to fund the staffing and case management that supported them, many of those residents were at risk of losing their housing.

She reached out to Stepping Stone.

Not because it was convenient. Because she trusted it.

What Happened Next

Those residents transitioned into Stepping Stone’s Long-Term Housing scattered site program.

Scattered site housing is different from the shared housing model many supporters are familiar with. In this structure, residents hold their own leases in apartments throughout the community. Stepping Stone is not on the lease. The resident signs directly with the landlord and maintains full tenancy rights.

Stepping Stone’s role is to ensure rent and utilities are paid through the county housing support program and to provide the case management that helps residents remain stable.

That support looks different for each person.

Some residents need only a monthly check-in. Others need help navigating disability benefits, communicating with landlords, keeping paperwork current with the county, or connecting to mental health services. Stability is not one-size-fits-all.

The Work Most People Don’t See

On paper, the administrative fee tied to housing support can be as low as $61 per person per month.

In practice, the work behind each placement is far more involved.

Rents and utilities must be processed for more than a hundred units. Paperwork must be updated every six months. Compliance records must be maintained. When someone moves into an apartment after experiencing homelessness, they often need basic household items — a bed, kitchen supplies, towels. Those needs are met through community donations and volunteer coordination.

The reimbursement alone does not cover that infrastructure.

Being a nonprofit makes the difference. Donor support and grants allow Stepping Stone to bridge funding gaps, absorb delays, and provide support that goes beyond minimum requirements. A small service provider without that backing would struggle to carry that load.

That is one reason Tracy knew Stepping Stone could step in when the state program ended.

Why Tracy Stays in This Work

Tracy often describes housing as a math problem. Many residents simply do not earn enough to afford market rent. Add trauma, mental health challenges, or disrupted work history, and stability becomes even more fragile.

When she talks about her clients, she talks about their stories. About how close many of them are to maintaining housing if the right supports are in place. About how quickly that stability can unravel when systems shift.

Her decision to call Stepping Stone was rooted in that understanding.

She knew the organization would not treat her clients as a billing category. She knew the infrastructure existed to keep them housed. And she knew the community behind Stepping Stone would help fill the gaps.

Nearly 40 individuals remained housed because that call was made.

And because the relationships were already there.