What Sacramento Steps Forward does

Sacramento Steps Forward (SSF) is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 that serves as the federally designated lead agency for Sacramento's Continuum of Care, the regional body responsible for coordinating homelessness prevention and response across the Sacramento region. With seven employees headquartered at 2150 River Plaza Drive, Suite 385, SSF does not provide direct shelter or housing services; instead, it operates the regional infrastructure that connects people experiencing homelessness to a network of partner service providers. The organization runs the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), which collects client-level data across the provider network; the Coordinated Access System (CAS), a centralized triage and referral mechanism; the State of Homelessness Dashboard, an interactive analytics tool; and the biennial Point-in-Time Count, a regional census of homelessness. Specialized program lines include the Survivor Coordinated Access System (S-CAS) for domestic violence survivors and CalAIM Resources supporting California's Medi-Cal reform initiative, alongside provider training programs (CAS Assessor, Housing Problem Solving, compliance monitoring) and collaborative committees such as the Partners with Lived Expertise Committee and Youth Action Board.

SSF's revenue is derived from two primary streams: federal HUD funding channeled through the Continuum of Care Program Competition and California state Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grants, plus donations collected through platforms such as Big Day of Giving. SSF does not charge for its coordination services; access for individuals in need is provided free via the 2-1-1 hotline (extension 8) or toll-free number. The organization distributes its coordination function through a channel network comprising the 211 hotline referral system and a regional provider network operating under community standards. Distribution is regional only (Sacramento, USA), and the organization has no app, no public API, no AI/ML capabilities, and no disclosed M&A or funding rounds.

Name

Sacramento Steps Forward

Legal name

Sacramento Steps Forward

Website

https://sacramentostepsforward.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sacramento Steps Forward is a 7-employee 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves as the federally designated lead for Sacramento's Continuum of Care, coordinating the regional HMIS, Coordinated Access System, Point-in-Time Count, and provider training network, funded primarily by HUD and California state grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homelessness Services Coordination

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Homelessness coordination services
• Continuum of care management
• Homeless management information
• Coordinated access system
• Housing referral services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Federal Funding: SSF brings federal funds to Sacramento through the Continuum of Care Program Competition and Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grants. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, they coordinate public funding for homelessness response.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts donations through platforms like Big Day of Giving and maintains GuideStar transparency seal indicating nonprofit fundraising operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sacramento Steps Forward is the designated lead for Sacramento's Continuum of Care, coordinating the regional homelessness response system across service providers, government agencies, and funders. It operates the Coordinated Access System (CAS) and the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) to connect individuals and families experiencing homelessness with housing and support services, and channels federal and state grant funding (HUD CoC, California HHAP) into the region. The organization itself does not deliver direct housing or shelter services; it instead provides the coordination infrastructure, data systems, training, and referral pathways that link residents in need with partner service providers via the 2-1-1 hotline.

Product overview

Sacramento Steps Forward operates as a coordination and support organization rather than a traditional product company. Their core offerings include the Coordinated Access System (CAS), which serves as the primary mechanism for coordinating access to housing and shelter services, and the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) for data collection across provider networks. These systems are supported by analytics tools including the State of Homelessness Dashboard and Point-in-Time Count data. Additionally, they provide training programs (CAS Assessor Training, Housing Problem Solving Training), CalAIM Resources for healthcare integration, and specialized services like the Survivor Coordinated Access System for domestic violence survivors. Together, these products and programs form an integrated homelessness response ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coordinated Access System (CAS) A centralized intake and referral system that assesses and matches individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Sacramento with appropriate housing, shelter, and support services through partner providers.
• Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) A regional data collection and reporting platform that allows homeless service providers across Sacramento to record and share client-level information, coordinate care, and track outcomes throughout the continuum of care.
• State of Homelessness Dashboard An interactive data visualization tool providing real-time and historical data on homelessness in the Sacramento region, including population demographics, service utilization, and system performance metrics.
• Point-in-Time Count Annual census of individuals experiencing homelessness in Sacramento, providing critical data for understanding the scope of homelessness and informing federal, state, and local funding decisions.
• CAS Assessor Training Training program for service providers on how to use the Coordinated Access System to assess and serve individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Housing Problem Solving Training Training program that equips service providers with techniques to help households resolve their housing crises without entering the shelter system.
• Survivor Coordinated Access System (S-CAS) A specialized branch of the Coordinated Access System designed specifically for survivors of domestic violence, providing trauma-informed coordinated access to safe housing and services.
• CalAIM Resources Resources and support for service providers related to California's CalAIM (California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal) initiative, which addresses social determinants of health through Medi-Cal transformation.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Local GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSF works in partnership with local government to prevent, respond to, and ultimately resolve homelessness in Sacramento. Local government entities collaborate with SSF on funding coordination, policy development, and system planning.
• Community OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSF partners with community organizations as part of the Continuum of Care network. These partners provide direct services including shelter, housing, and support to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
• Service ProviderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSF coordinates with service providers across the Sacramento region through the Provider Hub, offering training, compliance monitoring, case conferencing, and HMIS support to ensure consistent service delivery.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA): LA's Continuum of Care lead agency coordinating regional homelessness response including HMIS, Coordinated Entry System, and HUD funding competition. Directly comparable as a municipal-level CoC coordinator, though at significantly larger scale.
• Houston Coalition for the Homeless: Continuum of Care lead agency for the Houston region, operating as a 501(c)(3) that coordinates the local homelessness response, manages HMIS, and administers state/federal homelessness funding. Direct role equivalent to SSF.
• King County Regional Homelessness Authority: Regional coordinating body for homelessness response in King County (Seattle area), managing HMIS and Coordinated Entry. Performs the same Continuum of Care coordination function as SSF but in a different metropolitan region.

Regional players

• Mercy House: Southern California nonprofit providing direct homelessness services including shelter and housing programs. Comparable as a regional homelessness services provider, though operating as a direct service organization rather than coordinator.
• United Way California Capital Region: United Way chapter operating in the Sacramento region, coordinating community funding and serving as a backbone organization for social services. Comparable as a regional coordinator with overlap in funder/convener roles.

Broad incumbents

• Corporation for Supportive Housing: National nonprofit that provides capacity building, financing, and technical assistance to homelessness and supportive housing providers across the U.S. Comparable as a broader-incumbent operating in the same homelessness response ecosystem.
• National Alliance to End Homelessness: National policy and advocacy organization focused on preventing and ending homelessness. Comparable at the policy/funding advocacy layer that complements SSF's regional coordination work.
• Built for Zero (Community Solutions): National nonprofit that helps cities and regions achieve functional zero homelessness through data-driven methods like Built for Zero. Comparable as an ecosystem player influencing CoC coordination practices.

Emerging players

• Family Promise: National nonprofit focused on preventing and ending family homelessness, with local affiliate networks. Overlaps with SSF's mission and uses similar data-informed, coordinated-entry approaches.
• Homebase: Bay Area nonprofit providing technical assistance, training, and capacity building to homelessness service providers, including support for HMIS, Coordinated Entry, and CoC governance. Comparable training/technical assistance offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SacStepsForward
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SacramentoStepsForward
• Facebookfacebook.com/SacramentoStepsForward
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sacramento-steps-forward
• Instagraminstagram.com/sacstepsforward

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sacramento Steps Forward