When it comes to regaining stability after facing homelessness, the steps and barriers are endless. How do you get a job or social security benefits without an ID? Or commute to a job without transportation? How do you navigate it all when your mind and body still are in fight and flight from not having a place to call home?
At Good Sam, we see and understand those challenges. In response, we’ve identified 30 milestones (above) that break down the pathway to stability into achievable goals to help overcome these barriers and guide those we serve on their journey. Our Resource Coordinators work with each participant identifying a stability plan that is individualized for that person.
Some of the biggest milestones include getting an ID, increasing their income, finding childcare, or getting healthcare or transportation.
The goal is to take an overwhelming task (regaining stable housing) and break it down into several smaller tasks that are measurable, actionable, and personalized. It’s like steppingstones on a path, all an individual needs to do is focus on the next step in front of them. This ensures that stability is intentional, not accidental.
The result? Sustainable outcomes such as:
- Stable housing
- Increased income
- Reduced debt
- Improved credit
- Stronger employment
- Meaningful community connection
This February alone, our participants completed a record number of 1,064 milestones, each a step toward stability. This is nearly three times more than February 2025’s milestone count of 382, showing a deepening need for these supportive services in our communities.
Across the board, barriers to overcoming homelessness and poverty are on the rise and this milestone-based program is our response, a compassionate and comprehensive approach that works.
