LifeSTEPS Executive Director, Beth Southorn, Represents at 2023 National Service Coordinator Conference in Maryland

/0 Comments/in , /by

Maryland, August 31, 2023 – LifeSTEPS announces the attendance of its Executive Director, Beth Southorn, at the 2023 National Service Coordinator Conference held in Maryland from August 27th to 30th.

This year’s theme “Advocacy in Action – United in Purpose,” is organized annually by the American Association of Service Coordinators (AASC), a professional membership association and national resource for service-enriched housing. With over 4,000 members, AASC plays a pivotal role in supporting elderly and disabled residents, as well as families, in affordable housing communities by helping them identify, locate, and acquire the services and support needed for self-sufficiency. Beth Southorn, who also serves as the chair of the board for AASC, played a key role in the conference’s leadership.

The event gathered more than 1,000 attendees, providing a platform for networking, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing among service coordinators. Participants had the opportunity to delve into the latest innovative programs and findings that contribute to the enhancement of service coordination.

LifeSTEPS was honored to be a sponsor of this year’s conference, reinforcing its commitment to supporting initiatives that promote advocacy, unity, and purpose in the service-enriched housing sector.

For more information about LifeSTEPS and its commitment to service-enriched housing, please visit www.lifestepsusa.org.

 

Planning for a Brighter Future

/0 Comments/in , /by

Carla*, mother of two, hasn’t always had the easiest life. At an early age, Carla was figuring things out on her own.  Although she had a loving grandmother that raised her and her siblings, she lacked guidance when it came to planning for her future. With her parents out of the picture, Carla also took it upon herself to look out for her siblings trying hard to lessen the burden for grandmother. Because of this, Carla’s family has always been the most important thing in her life.

After graduating high school, she married her husband and had two children of her own. Although she and her family faced financial hardships and struggles, Carla also made the decision to take full custody of her nephew after experiencing challenges of his own. By following her grandmother’s lead, she knew how important it was for her nephew to grow up in a loving and supportive home.

With Carla unable to find work, the family relied on one income to help them get by. Living paycheck to paycheck and without a savings account, the family took out credit cards in order to pay for unforeseen expenses and emergencies. Sinking further and further into debt and having three children to support, Carla was desperate to find any kind of relief.

After moving into an affordable housing unit, Carla was introduced to LifeSTEPS and the programs we offer to struggling individuals who were in the same situation as her. She also learned about the Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS), which she immediately applied for. Nervous and not knowing what to expect, Carla was introduced to her Case Manager who went over the different classes and resources available to her.

For the first time in her life, Carla felt empowered. With financial education courses being offered, as well as one-on-one counseling, Carla was able to learn new ways to save money and budget. Through resume building and job training, Carla was also able to find full-time employment, helping her reduce her debt and finally start a savings account. With the services and resources provided by the FSS Program, Carla has finally been able to do something she never thought would be possible –earn her degree.

With life finally on the right track, Carla and her family are now on the path to reaching stability and self-sufficiency. “Always stay positive and don’t be scared to ask for help. Thank you, LifeSTEPS,” Carla says.

*name has been changed

From Homeless to Housed: A Success Story

/0 Comments/in , /by

When Linda* came to California six years ago, becoming homeless wasn’t part of her plan.

LifeSTEPSShe was a nurse in Texas. However, when she relocated to California her license wasn’t valid in this state. To land a nursing job here would cost $8-10,000 and two years of additional schooling. Knowing she had to work, Linda was trained by Los Angeles County in mental health services and working with those who had Alzheimer’s Disease. For six years she worked as a caregiver and didn’t stop until December 12, 2013.

That’s the day her life changed in ways she could never have imagined.

She took a horrible fall down a flight of stairs, sustaining numerous severe injuries. Unable to work, she no longer had an income sufficient to pay rent. She was eventually evicted from her apartment. Linda was now homeless and hopeless.

What she didn’t know is that there was a new effort being formed through the Housing for Health program between Los Angeles Department of Health Services, AMCAL, FPI Management, Brilliant Corners (the nonprofit contracted to coordinate the HFH program), and LifeSTEPS. Through this partnership Linda was identified as a good candidate – and LifeSTEPS social worker, LaKisha Collman, made outreach to her.

LaKisha helped her complete an application to the Housing for Health program (HFH). The HFH program strives to end homelessness in Los Angeles County, while reducing the inappropriate use of expensive health care resources and improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations. Administered by Los Angeles County, the program provides permanent supportive housing and specialized care to homeless people with complex physical and behavioral health conditions. “Linda was the perfect candidate for this program. It was evident that her health was suffering so we worked as quickly as possible to get her into the program.” LaKisha said.

“I was sleeping in my car.” Linda said. She parked in hospital parking lots and other places where she would feel safe. Still recovering from the severity of her injuries, her sleeping arrangement made her condition worse. “I have seven degenerated bones in my back and sleeping in my car has made it worse. I’m sometimes in so much pain I can’t sleep.”

Not long after preparing her application, LaKisha gave Linda some good news: she had been referred to Broadway Villas – an AMCAL affordable housing complex that is a part of the HFH program. Linda, understandably, was quite excited. “I went to see the property and it was beautiful. I knew I was going to be blessed. It was like a dream!”

“There are a lot of heroes in this program,” says Beth Southorn, Executive Director for LifeSTEPS. “The housing part of this program can be complex. With AMCAL agreeing to set aside a number of rent-controlled units at Broadway Villas that fit the program guidelines, they’ve made the transition from homelessness to being housed much easier.” She also cites that all of the partners have done amazing work to make dreams like Linda’s come true.

“What I also find extraordinary is that people like Linda, who have experienced great difficulties, are definitely up to the challenge of making significant positive changes in their lives. They just need a little help.” Southorn says.

LifeSTEPS has housed total of 16 people at Broadway Villas since early 2015. Each unit is fully furnished, and residents will receive ongoing social service support from LifeSTEPS to help make their transition as successful as possible. Linda was one of eight people who moved into Broadway Villas on January 28, 2015. LifeSTEPS has helped a total of 40 people transition into permanent homes through the HFH program at two AMCAL communities.

Overcome with emotion, Linda exclaimed, “Do you know where I was sleeping on the 15th of this month? Outside on the street in front of this building! I’ve been waiting for this day for so long. LaKisha is one of God’s angels and I feel so blessed.”

*Please note:  Some resident names have been changed.

From Homeless to Housed: A Success Story!

/0 Comments/in , /by

When Linda* came to California six years ago, becoming homeless wasn’t part of her plan.

LifeSTEPSShe was a nurse in Texas. However, when she relocated to California her license wasn’t valid in this state. To land a nursing job here would cost $8-10,000 and two years of additional schooling. Knowing she had to work, Linda was trained by Los Angeles County in mental health services and working with those who had Alzheimer’s Disease. For six years she worked as a caregiver and didn’t stop until December 12, 2013.

That’s the day her life changed in ways she could never have imagined.

She took a horrible fall down a flight of stairs, sustaining numerous severe injuries. Unable to work, she no longer had an income sufficient to pay rent. She was eventually evicted from her apartment. Linda was now homeless and hopeless.

What she didn’t know is that there was a new effort being formed through the Housing for Health program between Los Angeles Department of Health Services, AMCAL, FPI Management, Brilliant Corners (the nonprofit contracted to coordinate the HFH program), and LifeSTEPS. Through this partnership Linda was identified as a good candidate – and LifeSTEPS social worker, LaKisha Collman, made outreach to her.

LaKisha helped her complete an application to the Housing for Health program (HFH). The HFH program strives to end homelessness in Los Angeles County, while reducing the inappropriate use of expensive health care resources and improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations. Administered by Los Angeles County, the program provides permanent supportive housing and specialized care to homeless people with complex physical and behavioral health conditions. “Linda was the perfect candidate for this program. It was evident that her health was suffering so we worked as quickly as possible to get her into the program.” LaKisha said.

“I was sleeping in my car.” Linda said. She parked in hospital parking lots and other places where she would feel safe. Still recovering from the severity of her injuries, her sleeping arrangement made her condition worse. “I have seven degenerated bones in my back and sleeping in my car has made it worse. I’m sometimes in so much pain I can’t sleep.”

Not long after preparing her application, LaKisha gave Linda some good news: she had been referred to Broadway Villas – an AMCAL affordable housing complex that is a part of the HFH program. Linda, understandably, was quite excited. “I went to see the property and it was beautiful. I knew I was going to be blessed. It was like a dream!”

“There are a lot of heroes in this program,” says Beth Southorn, Executive Director for LifeSTEPS. “The housing part of this program can be complex. With AMCAL agreeing to set aside a number of rent-controlled units at Broadway Villas that fit the program guidelines, they’ve made the transition from homelessness to being housed much easier.” She also cites that all of the partners have done amazing work to make dreams like Linda’s come true.

“What I also find extraordinary is that people like Linda, who have experienced great difficulties, are definitely up to the challenge of making significant positive changes in their lives. They just need a little help.” Southorn says.

LifeSTEPS has housed total of 16 people at Broadway Villas since early 2015. Each unit is fully furnished, and residents will receive ongoing social service support from LifeSTEPS to help make their transition as successful as possible. Linda was one of eight people who moved into Broadway Villas on January 28, 2015. LifeSTEPS has helped a total of 40 people transition into permanent homes through the HFH program at two AMCAL communities.

Overcome with emotion, Linda exclaimed, “Do you know where I was sleeping on the 15th of this month? Outside on the street in front of this building! I’ve been waiting for this day for so long. LaKisha is one of God’s angels and I feel so blessed.”

*Please note:  Some resident names have been changed.