Step Up for Better Living (Step Up) is pleased to announce that it has received a $45,000 Capacity Building Grant through a special initiative of the New York City Council that assists organizations serving communities of color. The Communities of Color Nonprofit Stabilization Fund (CCNSF) aims to build the capacity of New York City nonprofits and recognizes the fact that organizations led by the people of the community are best equipped to meet the needs of the community they serve.

The Step Up mission is to help people in need achieve and sustain stability, wellness and self-sufficiency. The funds received from CCNSF will be used to design a management information system which will be used to improve methods of data collection and reporting of services delivered to clients. The data collected will be used to conduct trend analyses, which will help monitor and improve how clients use Step Up’s services.

The data will also help to conduct program evaluations to measure the impact of the Step Up Housing Retention and Stabilization Program. The Housing Retention and Stabilization Program is designed to prevent homelessness among 250 low-income families annually. Key services include providing access to food, technology, employment, education and financial literacy services. The goal is to empower individuals and help them develop skills that promote stability and improve their quality of life.

Overall, the funding from CCNSF will help Step Up analyze and improve the measurement of client outcomes. It will also ensure that Step Up is following best practices in client engagement that will result in timely interventions and follow up with at risk clients. We are honored to be the recipient of the CCNSF grant and are looking forward to using the funds to improve the lives of families in the South Bronx.