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Monday 8am - 9pm Tuesday 8am - 9pm Wednesday 8am - 9pm Thursday 8am - 9pm Friday 8am - 9pm Saturday 1:30pm - 10pm Sunday 1:30pm - 10pm

First Step Communities

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United States
Sacramento, CA
First Step Communities

Mission Statement: First Step Communities (FSC) will create interim housing communities where people experiencing homelessness can live in dignity.

In the last few years, Sacramento Steps Forward (SSF) and the Sacramento Continuum of Care (CoC), following Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) directives, have made the Housing First model of placing homeless people in permanent housing and coordinating services their top objective. First Step Communities (First Step) agrees with the selection of Housing First as the priority model. It should be noted, however, that a troublesome gap persists in the ability to secure funding to produce sufficient permanent housing, affordable and supportive, for the homeless population. Additionally, a segment of the chronic homeless population that has not been successful in accessing either permanent housing programs, shelter and/or services. It is this vulnerable population that is often unable to find either permanent housing or appropriate services programs. These individuals represent First Step’s targeted participants. First Step will provide interim housing and services to the most vulnerable in the homeless population, and in doing so, help prepare them for permanent rehousing as the move through the First Step interim program and prepare for rapid rehousing programs. Amazon wish list: https://a.co/2txDrf9

10/09/2026

🎙️✨ EXCITING NEWS! OUR PODCAST IS OFFICIALLY LIVE! 🎉 We’re thrilled to announce that First Step Communities’ CEO, Joe Pacheco, was recently featured on the Nonprofit Podcast Network! During this inspiring conversation, Joe shared the heart behind our mission, the importance of helping individuals experiencing homelessness, and the life-changing impact of creating pathways from survival to stability. 💙🏡

A heartfelt THANK YOU to the Nonprofit Podcast Network for welcoming us and providing an incredible platform to share our story. We had a wonderful time! We’re also deeply grateful to our dedicated supporters, donors, volunteers, and community partners who help make our mission possible every day.

👏 Congratulations, Joe, on an outstanding interview! Your leadership, passion, and commitment to serving our community continue to inspire us!

🎧 NOW AVAILABLE! WATCH, LISTEN & SHARE! Help us spread the word and inspire others to join our mission of transforming lives, one step at a time!

🔗 Watch the full interview here:
https://www.nonprofpod.com/from-survival-to-stability-the-work-of-first-step-communities-helping-the-homeless/

10/07/2026

☀️ COOLING CENTER EXTENDED THROUGH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9th ☀️

With continued high temperatures in our region, First Step Communities’ Weather Respite/Cooling Center, operated in partnership with the County of Sacramento, will remain open through Friday, October 9.

📍 Hours: 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM daily

We encourage anyone in need of relief from the heat to take advantage of this safe, welcoming space. Please help us spread the word to neighbors, friends, and community members who may benefit.

For information about our Cooling Center and other active cooling locations throughout Sacramento County, please visit 211Sacramento.org or call 2-1-1 for current dates, locations, and hours.

Please see the attached flyers for additional information, including the SacRT flyer with details about free rides to cooling centers.

Thank you to the County of Sacramento, SacRT, and our community partners for helping keep our neighbors safe during extreme heat. 💚 💛

10/02/2026

☀️🔥 Cooling Center Activated! Be Safe, Stay Cool! 🔥☀️ Our Weather Respite Cooling Center, operated in partnership with the County of Sacramento, will be open Saturday, October 3 through Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM daily to help our community stay safe during the upcoming stretch of extreme heat. The center provides a cool, welcoming place to escape the heat, enjoy water & snacks, and TV entertainment. You can also connect with case managers, community resources, and spend time with others in a safe and supportive environment. We’re also pet-friendly, so your furry companions can find relief from the heat, too! 🐾 In addition, FREE transportation to the Cooling Center is available (please see the attached flyer for details). 🌞 Don’t risk the heat. Come cool off, connect, and stay safe. Please help us spread the word by liking, commenting, and sharing this post so those who need this resource can find it. Thank you. 💚 💛

10/01/2026

❤️🏆We’re thrilled to share that one of our major supporters AND former foster youth, Amber Robbins, has been selected as a 2026 Sacramento Leaders of Impact Nominee! 🏆❤️. Amber spearheaded the makeover of The Grove, and continues to advocate for clients, especially at The Grove (our shelter for transitional age youth).

Every 34 seconds, someone loses their life to cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. Together, we have the power to change that. 💪❤️
Over the next 7 weeks, Impact Teams will be raising awareness, advocating for healthier communities, and funding lifesaving research through the American Heart Association. 🫀🔬✨
This mission is especially meaningful as cardiovascular disease not only impacts so many of our clients, but also friends and family. Every conversation, share, and donation helps create a future where more people can live longer, healthier lives. ❤️
🙌 Will you join her in making an impact? ✅ Make a donation ✅ Share this post ✅ Help spread awareness.
Together, we can turn passion into purpose and save lives. ❤️
🔗 Support Amber’s campaign here: http://www2.heart.org/goto/AmberLane

❤️🫀✨

09/29/2026

✨ A Dinner under the Stars: A Night to Celebrate Hope ✨
Think about the first time you enjoyed a special meal, attended a celebration, or were recognized for your accomplishments. For many of the individuals we serve, those experiences have never happened. That’s why we’re hosting A Dinner Under the Stars, a special evening where our clients can dress in their finest attire (clothing donations from you all), enjoy a catered meal, showcase their artwork, and be celebrated for the incredible progress they’ve made on their journeys.

We’re looking for volunteers, raffle prize donations, sponsors, and community members who would like to join us in honoring these remarkable individuals. Together, we can create an unforgettable evening filled with dignity, encouragement, and hope. To register, volunteer, donate, or learn more, please email [email protected]. Or visit our “donate” page at www.FirstStepCommunities.org. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating these beautiful souls and the bright futures they’re working so hard to build. 💙✨

09/27/2026

🏡✨ A New Beginning Starts Here ✨🏡
Every time we prepare a cabin for a new client, we do so with hope in mind. We refresh, clean, replace items, and carefully prepare each space, knowing that it will soon become so much more than four walls and a bed. For someone who has experienced homelessness, this cabin will be a place of safety, rest, healing & rehabilitation, and renewed possibility. It is a place where someone can finally exhale, sleep peacefully, begin working on their goals, and start envisioning a future beyond survival.
Today, this beautiful cabin stands ready to welcome its next resident. Soon, it will be filled with new memories, new opportunities, and a new chapter in someone’s life. We are honored to create these spaces and witness the incredible transformations that happen within them. Behind every prepared cabin is a powerful message: you matter, you are welcome here, and your future is worth investing in. Please consider helping us as we renew cabins for new clients.💙🏡

09/25/2026

Clothing donations needed. 🍂🍁 Fall is in the air! Cooler mornings, changing leaves, pumpkin-flavored everything, and the excitement of a new season remind us that change can bring hope and fresh beginnings. As we welcome fall and prepare for winter, all First Step Communities sites are in need of new and gently used fall and winter clothing donations, including jackets, sweaters, hoodies, pants, socks, gloves, and other cold-weather essentials.
Your donation can help keep our neighbors warm, comfortable, and cared for during the colder months ahead. If you’d like to donate or have questions, please contact [email protected]. Donation receipts are available upon request. Thank you for helping us wrap our community in warmth, hope, and compassion this season! 💙🍂

All locations for drop off:
1400 North A. Street, Sac, Ca 95811
3900 Roseville Road, North Highlands, CA 95660
2787 Grove Ave, Sac, Ca 95815
6810 Stockton Blvd. Sac, Ca 95823

09/24/2026

Introducing the Talk-Box!📱 ☎️ Imagine trying to rebuild your life without access to a phone. For many individuals experiencing homelessness, that reality can make it difficult to access shelter, housing resources, and critical support services. To help remove this barrier, First Step Communities’ IT Specialist Marco developed the Talk Box, a free public call box that connects individuals directly to 2-1-1 with the push of a button, helping them begin the journey toward shelter and stability.

More than just a phone, the Talk Box is a pathway to hope. It also provides access to affordable housing information and community resources, making it easier for people to connect with the help they need. Marco’s vision is to place additional Talk Boxes throughout Sacramento so more individuals can access life-changing services. We are incredibly proud of his innovation, compassion, and dedication to helping others take their first steps toward a brighter future. Let’s support this effort by leaving a comment below! 💯 💚 💛

09/22/2026

After years of homelessness, setbacks, and heartbreak, this resident reached a point where hope felt out of reach. One year ago, he arrived at North A Street Shelter carrying the weight of broken promises and difficult experiences, but through perseverance, hard work, and the support of those around him, he slowly began to believe in a better future again. Today, he is awaiting the keys to his very own apartment and looking forward to spending more time with the people he loves most: his grandchildren. His message to others is a powerful reminder that even when hope feels lost, it can be found again. Keep pushing forward, accept help when it is offered, and never stop believing that brighter days are possible.

09/19/2026

🎬 Save the Date! Join us on December 1, 2026 (Giving Tuesday) at Sacramento’s historic Crest Theatre for the local premiere of Unhoused Neighbors, a powerful documentary highlighting the experiences of individuals navigating homelessness in our community. Admission is free, and donations from attendees will support three local nonprofit organizations, including First Step Communities. We hope you’ll join us for this meaningful evening of storytelling, awareness, and community as we come together to support our unhoused neighbors. 💙

Address

1455 Response Road, Ste 190
Sacramento, CA
95815

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 9pm
Tuesday	8am - 9pm
Wednesday	8am - 9pm
Thursday	8am - 9pm
Friday	8am - 9pm
Saturday	1:30pm - 10pm
Sunday	1:30pm - 10pm

Telephone

(916) 822-4900

Website

https://www.firststepcommunities.org/, https://gcld.co/RZ4xxWZ

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