The Stepping Stones Foundation

Stepping Stones housing is based on the Oxford model operating on the concept of group accountability, democratically run by residents. Each house is financially self-supported by residents paying their fair share of rent.   House meetings take place once every week with mandatory attendance by all residents. The weekly meeting is the place to resolve disputes among the “family” and a place to work together to keep recovery at the heart of all house operations. Each house has a President who is elected by his peers to lead the functioning of the house and assist any new residents. 

Stepping Stones relies on the social model of recovery with strict accountability to the group. Failure to pay expenses each week is grounds for immediate dismissal as it jeopardizes the operation of the house. Part of the recovery process is consistently taking care of responsibilities both social and financial. Likewise disruptive behavior is not tolerated. All residents attend recovery related meetings, including AA, NA, Celebrate Recovery and the like. Stepping Stones is not a treatment center nor a traditional halfway house. Rather it is a place where addicts help other addicts and support them in their recovery. Our residents range in clean time from a few weeks to several years. In our experience, the new residents benefit from the leadership and example of our more established residents. 

Stepping Stones provides job placement and support. New residents who are not fully employed meet with a Community Coordinator at least once a week to develop and implement a job search plan. Coaching, resume development, mock interviews, skill assessments, and transportation are all components of a new residents' job search strategy. Stepping Stones provides mentorship in how to be a good employee by fostering punctuality, work ethic, being trustworthy and responsible.  We understand that not everyone coming into our housing is financially healthy, and needs support in gaining employment.

Stepping Stones maintains relationships with local employers and temporary agencies who appreciate the responsible demeanor of our residents.  All residents are required to find gainful employment within 30 days of entering our program. We have nearly a 100% placement rate for our residents largely due to the reputation and success of our former clients. We are committed to finding employment with dignity for all our residents, and our experience shows this is a critical factor in our client’s success.