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STANDING TOGETHER EFFECTIVELY FOR PEOPLE

OGDENSBURG, NY · EIN 161510072 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE S41 · Community Improvement · Medium ($1M-$10M) · stepbystepinc.org
revenue
$1.6M
expenses
$1.5M
net assets
$5.6M
employees
29
volunteers
4
program ratio
95%
mission · from form 990

ADVOCACY SERVICES

profile · synthesized from sources

S.T.E.P. by S.T.E.P., Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in Ogdensburg, NY, that supports individuals in recovery and those seeking greater independence through person-centered care. The organization emphasizes self-determination, mental health, and community integration by offering supportive housing, wellness activities, life skills development, and therapeutic horticulture. Programs are grounded in the Housing First model and focus on empowering individuals to define and pursue their own goals.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Greenhouse & Therapeutic Horticulture Project
Offers therapeutic horticulture, employment skills development, and social interaction through weekly activities at the SBS Farm & Greenhouse
Housing First Program
Provides immediate access to permanent housing without preconditions, paired with voluntary supportive services including case management, mental health support, and employment assistance
Meals of Grace Community Lunch
Weekly community meal at Grace Church in Ogdensburg that fosters connection and reduces social isolation
Mindfulness & Meditation Group
Weekly meditation and discussion sessions focused on self-reflection, emotional well-being, and personal growth
Strength & Conditioning Group
Functional fitness program designed to improve physical health and support independent living
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 2 activities
    • Deliver housing case management and navigation services
      Provides housing case management, linkage, and navigation services to help peers access safe and affordable housing and connect with available community supports and services.
    • Provide supportive and permanent housing services
      Operates Permanent Supportive, Independent with Supports, Semi-Supported, Emergency, and Transitional Housing programs, including two semi-supported apartment sites and one Permanent Supportive Housing site, to support individuals experiencing homelessness in achieving stability and personal goals.
  • Tenant Legal Advocacy & Support Services 1 activity
    • Advocate for individuals with mental health and housing needs
      Provides advocacy services to support individuals facing mental health and housing challenges, promoting access to care and community resources.
  • Self-Sufficiency Empowerment Workshops 1 activity
    • Deliver holistic behavior change and recovery support program
      Implements Foundations, a multi-dimensional program supporting individuals in recovery from addiction and mental health challenges through life skills development, wellness education, and community integration.
  • Spiritual Development & Meditation Programs 1 activity
    • Deliver peer-led mental health and wellness programs
      Offers peer-led classes and activities in stress management, mindfulness, positive mindset, coping tools, meditation, and personal growth, including weekly meditation sessions at the SBS Farm & Greenhouse and therapeutic horticulture experiences.
  • Community-Based Urban Agriculture 1 activity
    • Operate community-supported agriculture (CSA) program
      Runs a CSA program offering weekly full shares and bi-weekly half-shares from June to September/October, with pickup locations at Hutchinson Farm and Knox Street offices in Ogdensburg.
  • Senior Social & Enrichment Programming 1 activity
    • Operate drop-in center with peer-led wellness and community activities
      Provides a drop-in center offering Morning Coffee Hour, creative and wellness classes, evening hours, community meals, and peer-led in-person gatherings for social connection. Extended services include virtual support groups and expanded hours since November 2023.
  • Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
    • Provide community meals and recreational social events
      Hosts weekly shared meals at Grace Church in Ogdensburg and weekly Movie & Popcorn Day to reduce social isolation and foster community connection.
  • Agricultural Training and Education Programs 1 activity
    • Run therapeutic horticulture and vocational skills program
      Operates the Garden and Greenhouse program at SBS Farm, providing therapeutic horticulture, vocational skills development, employment training, and social interaction through planting, tending, harvesting, and preserving food crops.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.55M
Contributions & grants$1.23M80%
Program service revenue$306K20%
Investment income$12K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.50M
Program expenses95%
Admin / overhead5%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.12M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$6.41M
Cash$474K
Investments$0
Liabilities$801K
Net assets$5.60M
Liquid reserves3.8 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +3.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 4
  • BARBARA BRIGGS WARD — SECRETARY
  • GREG HOOPER — PRESIDENT
  • KIM SMITH — DIRECTOR
  • YVONNE LEWANDOWSKI — DIRECTOR
relationships · 7

Who they work with

  • DSS Partner — Provides daily transportation to DSS for service access.
  • Grace Church Partner — Collaborates with S.T.E.P. by S.T.E.P., Inc. to host weekly shared meals for community connection.
  • S.T.E.P. by S.T.E.P., Inc. Network — Organization implementing the Housing First model and providing supportive services.
  • S.T.E.P. by S.T.E.P., Inc. Network — Parent organization operating the SBS Farm & Greenhouse program.
  • SBS Farm & Greenhouse Partner — Collaborative site for weekly meditation and personal growth activities.
  • Seaway Valley Partner — Provides daily transportation to Seaway Valley for service access.
  • St. Lawrence County Single Point of Access (SPOA) Committee Government — Processes all referrals for S.T.E.P. by S.T.E.P., Inc. housing programs.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Housing First Model
    methodology: housing_first
    By providing immediate permanent housing without preconditions, the organization enables individuals to stabilize and more effectively address mental health, employment, and recovery challenges, because housing is foundational to sustained well-being and engagement.
  • Integrated Physical and Mental Wellness
    methodology: integrated-physical-and-mental-health
    By addressing physical health practices such as nutrition and fitness alongside mental health support, the organization improves overall well-being, because physical and mental health are interdependent and mutually reinforcing in recovery and independence.
  • Nature-Based Therapeutic Model
    methodology: nature-based therapy
    By integrating gardening, mindfulness, and nature-based metaphors into care, the organization supports mental, emotional, and physical health, because engagement with nature fosters healing, reflection, and a sense of growth parallel to personal recovery.
  • Peer-Led, Trauma-Informed Care
    methodology: peer-supported, trauma-informed care
    By delivering services through peers with lived experience using a "do with" rather than "do for" approach, the organization fosters trust and engagement, because shared experience and non-judgmental support enhance recovery and personal agency.
  • Person-Centered Care
    methodology: person-centered
    By aligning services with each individual’s values, goals, and preferences, the organization increases engagement and self-determination, because personal autonomy and dignity are central to sustained recovery and independence.