HERMISTON, Ore.-Stepping Stones Alliance is a nonprofit that operates Project PATH at 81535 Lind Road in Hermiston, providing a safe place to go at night for those experiencing homelessness as they get back on their feet.
The mission of Stepping Stones is to provide immediate shelter, as well as access to the resources and support that can lead to stability for those experiencing homelessness.
Stepping Stones, which offers a navigation center, sleep center, and individual housing units, grew out of the experience of volunteers at the Hermiston Warming Station.
Volunteers at the station, which was open during the winter months, realized that the lack of shelter and safety for the homeless population is a need that persists year-round.
In 2019, a group of volunteers visited the Sleep Center in Walla Walla, which is open year-round, to see if something similar could be done in the Hermiston area.
Visits to sleep centers across the country followed, and the group formed as Stepping Stones of Hermiston, before larger community involvement and more cities came on board, and the group rebranded as Stepping Stones Alliance.
Beginnings
The Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 4123 in 2022, which called for coordinated homeless response systems across the state and established eight homeless response pilot programs, including one in Umatilla County.
Each pilot program received $1 million in state funding to manage a homeless response office, establish a board, develop a five-year strategic plan, and commit to securing funding beyond the initial two-years from the state of Oregon.
Following the passage of HB4123, Umatilla County, and the Cities of Hermiston, Umatilla, Stanfield and Echo, partnered to create and implement the Practical Assistance through Transitional Housing (PATH) Program.
Stepping Stones Alliance was chosen by the City of Umatilla to develop and implement Project PATH, with the “intent to bring together various services available to assist individuals and families facing homelessness with the objective to move them into and through transitional housing to permanent housing,” according to a November 2023 Legislative Report on the pilot programs.
Stepping Stones Alliance
Stepping Stones Alliance strives to create a community where all individuals have a safe place to shelter, as well as access to the support necessary to create stability.
“My time at Stepping Stones has opened my eyes to the fact that each situation is unique,” said Executive Director Jesalyn Cole, who has been with the nonprofit for about two-and-a-half years. “There are so many ways to fall into homelessness and just as many to get out of it.”
Stepping Stones has a Board of Directors and operates a navigation center, sleep center and individual shelter units, with a staff of eight, and carries out its mission with the help of community partners and sponsors, as well as the work of dedicated volunteers.
Navigation Center
The Stepping Stones Alliance navigation center is a space to create community, and where those experiencing homelessness can learn new skills and access resources.
The navigation center facility has a kitchen, washer and dryer available for members. Access to counseling and recovery program resources, resume writing and computer access are also available.
Stepping Stones staff are available to assist with goal setting, creating an action plan and support for members in the navigation center, which is also used for game nights and gatherings for members.
Sleep Center
The sleep center provides night-to-night shelter for those who need it, with more than 2,300 night stays from December through July of this year, according to Cole.
“People who come through the program or who use the resources available through Stepping Stones need and want help,” said Roger Condie, Stepping Stones Board Chair. “They come in, have a meal, and get a good night’s rest.”
A shuttle picks those who wish to stay at the sleep center up each night at McKenzie Park in Hermiston at 6:15 p.m. Those who stay overnight receive both dinner and breakfast before the shuttle drops them off the next morning.
There are 26 beds in the sleep center, but room to sleep up to 40 people with cots. There are rules and regulations in place for staying the night, and the facility is staffed in the evening and mornings, with Stepping Stones contracting security on the premises overnight.
The number of people who stay at the sleep center varies throughout the year and is dependent on the weather, but an average of about 12 people a night stay at the facility, according to Cole.
Individual Shelter Units
“Members in our individual units are eligible to stay on campus 24-hours a day,” said Cole. “It’s dependent on the goals they set, as long as they’re making progress toward the ultimate goal of housing.”
Members who stay at the sleep center 14 nights or longer are eligible for one of 21 individual shelter units that have lights, an electrical outlet, heaters, and sanitary rolling storage containers built by community partners and volunteers in 2023 at Stepping Stones.
“The community really came together and jumped in, it was well-received and has been well-maintained,” said Condie of the individual units. “It’s a nice community resource that the homeless population has a safe place to go.”
The individual shelter units share an outside common area, and funding has been secured for a covering for the area, as well as an outdoor kitchen, according to Cole.
Members staying in the shelter units have chores, such as mowing the lawn and gardening, in planters constructed by Hermiston High School’s woodworking class through an AWS ChangeX grant. Members are also welcome to take part in classes, such as the remote-control car class, which recently built a track in a gravel area near the shelters.
According to Cole, the navigation center works to develop individual action plans with members staying in the individual shelters, and members must be actively trying to meet the goals they have set.
Although the ultimate goal may be permanent housing, other goals vary, depending on the individual and range from finding work to establishing residency, or getting a new driver’s license or social security card.
“Whether it’s job skills, job placement, or money for a down payment, we work on quality goal setting,” said Cole. “As long as they’re always working toward a goal, the time people can stay here is open-ended. Sometimes there’s a six-month or even year-long waitlist for housing.”
Getting involved
Stepping Stones enjoys partnerships and community support from several churches and community groups, businesses and organizations, such as Marlette, Community Counseling Solutions, the Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation, AWS, and many more.
Donations and volunteers are also always welcome, with cleaning supplies, toilet paper, and food among the items most often needed, according to Cole.
“We post our most needed list on Fridays,” said Cole. “Preparing and donating meals always has a big impact and doesn’t require a huge time commitment.”
Donations of food and other essential items may be dropped off at Stepping Stones during business hours at 81535 Lind Road in Hermiston.
“We’re always looking for more volunteers for mornings and evenings in the sleep center,” said Cole. “At the facility or on our board, which right now has five members, and we can have up to nine.”
Those hoping to volunteer may download the background check form, watch an informational video, and learn about current volunteer opportunities online or by contacting Stepping Stones at 541.561.3680.
Monetary donations may also be made online, and items can always be purchased from Stepping Stones’ Amazon wishlist.
Gala Fundraiser
Stepping Stones Annual Gala Fundraiser is Saturday, October 11 from 6-10 p.m. at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center (EOTEC) at 1705 E. Airport Road in Hermiston.
The “Enchanted Garden” themed fundraiser will include an update on Stepping Stones programs, dinner, and an auction for items that will remain at Stepping Stones to be used by members.
Tickets are $50 each and are available online or by scanning the QR code in the attached flyer.
“Stepping Stones Alliance provides a great foundation for those with a dream and the desire to achieve it, even in moments when it seems like the world is against them,” said Condie.
