Properties

Second Step Housing (SSH) provides supported housing, leadership, and supportive services to create long-term solutions to ending generational poverty and homelessness. Our programs result in housing stability and a more livable community. We seek to provide opportunities to people who experience barriers to housing because of income, disability, or special needs in an environment which preserves dignity, and in a manner which maintains the public trust.

SSH currently has over 42 units of affordable permanent housing, home to over 125 households and children, 12 transitional homes that provide 63 individual units within the homes and are home to over 100 adults and their children currently participating in our housing programs. All of our properties have been constructed and remodeled in partnership with the City of Vancouver, CDBG and HOME funds.

We are committed to encouraging affordable housing in our community. Our properties are examples of well-kept, affordable options that contribute to a stable living environment.

We do require participants in our case managed housing programs, who are work-able adults over age 18, not disabled, not currently working at least 25 hours per week to volunteer in the community or to take classes related to self-sufficiency for a total of at least 8 hours per month. We believe this will help provide motivation, structure and skills required to compete successfully in the market place. To move to that place we all want to be, independent and able to rely on our work and our skills to support our families and provide for their future.

Our philosophy is simple, we believe that in order to succeed, you must believe you can. For those who have experienced multiple failures, have lived in poverty, had parents who lived in poverty, or perhaps have backgrounds that don’t value education, and lack support systems, this is a significant barrier. Once individuals believe in themselves, they are ready to begin to change the way they think and learn new skills.

The average income of a SSH resident is under $13,000 per year, well below the federal poverty level. This is as compared to a county median income of $58,225 for a family of 4, (information gathered from Clark County website). We see many work-able residents that are employed yet do not earn a “living wage” that is sufficient to support their family without some type of government assistance. Employment prospects for this group of individuals is really dim due to several factors that include lack of education. It is almost certain they will not succeed without the skills required to compete on an even playing field with other job seekers.