Beth Southorn and Bruce Kuban Honored at Housing CA Conference

On March 6, 2025, Beth Southorn, Executive Director of LifeSTEPS and Bruce Kuban, Interim CalAIM Director at LifeSTEPS, were recognized for their outstanding contributions to homelessness solutions at California Housing’s 2025 Annual Conference in Sacramento. The two joined a panel of experts including Leepi Shimkhada, Deputy Director of Housing for Health at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Rebecca Louie, President and CEO of Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation and Jeffrey Najarian, Wellness Services Manager at Wakeland Housing and Development. Together, they led an insightful discussion titled Housing First: Navigating Controversy and Politics in the Pursuit of Effective Homelessness Solutions.

The Housing First model prioritizes providing permanent, stable housing before addressing other challenges such as mental health, employment or substance use. This approach has been widely adopted and has demonstrated significant success in reducing homelessness and improving long-term outcomes. However, despite its proven effectiveness, Housing First remains a topic of debate, often entangled in political and ideological conflicts.

The panel explored the challenges and misconceptions surrounding Housing First, the political dynamics influencing its implementation and the evidence-based successes that underscore its critical role in addressing homelessness. Discussions emphasized the need for collaboration among policymakers, housing advocates and service providers to navigate these complexities and advance sustainable solutions.

Beth and Bruce received Badges of Recognition for their contributions as speakers at the conference and their dedication to improving the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness. Their work at LifeSTEPS has been instrumental in advocating for integrated housing solutions that combine stable housing with essential supportive services—an approach proven to foster long-term housing stability and self-sufficiency.