Sacramento Steps Forward

What it reported doing in 2024

Increase Capacity & KnowledgeFacilitated the Sacramento Homeless Policy Council: The Sacramento Homeless Policy Council (SHPC) was established to foster regional collaboration among leaders to combat homelessness. The SHPC brings together elected officials from across Sacramento County and representatives from Sacramentos Continuum of Care community. Sacramento Steps Forward facilitates quarterly meetings of the group to foster discussion and partnership on strategic and practical responses to homelessness in our region. The SHPC serves to accelerate knowledge sharing and best practices and to provide a forum for the public to observe the efforts and impacts of providers and partners involved in the homelessness response system. Towards the end of 2024, members of the SHPC, SSF, the county, and surrounding cities identified a need for better integration between the SHPC and the CoC. SSF coordinated with the County to procure a consultant to recommend a revised countywide governance structure for resolving homelessness and simultaneously placed the SHPC on hold.Implemented Provider and Partner Trainings: Increasing the capacity of homelessness service providers within Sacramentos Continuum of Care (CoC) network is a primary objective of our work. In addition to ensuring that our frontline organizations receive training to keep them current and compliant, we also address relevant issues within the community including response to natural disasters and public health emergencies. Trainings focus on program best practices in housing or homelessness-related, policy developments, adjacent issues such as behavioral health or domestic violence, and mainstream resources to, for instance, ensure quality client service. Housing Problem Solving trainings exemplify our commitment to continuous quality improvement. We refine each training session based on feedback from the previous one. These quarterly sessions also empower Partners with Lived Expertise to teach providers effective ways to converse with clients, enhancing the overall impact of our work.ADVANCED SOLUTIONS TO END FAMILY HOMELESSNESS: The Housing Families First Collaborative is a strategic initiative funded by the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund and the California Interagency Council on Homelessness to address family homelessness in the region. This collaborative effort, guided by the proven Built for Zero model, focuses on identifying, assisting, and monitoring families facing homelessness by implementing systems-level changes, enhancing service and housing access, and prioritizing racial equity. In partnership with the Black Child Legacy Campaign and as part of a county-wide initiative to prevent child deaths, the collaborative is enhancing targeted services and support for the Black and African American community. The Housing Families First Collaborative aims to ensure that every family in Sacramento has a safe, stable place to call home. The Collaborative is comprised of members who represent a cross-section of service providers, agencies, and others. Together they are problem-solving around policies, funding, and services to improve alignment, coordination, and impact. IMPACT: Hired a program director to manage the Collaborative. Prepared to launch a $4.5 million pilot program that will serve at least 150 families by November 2026. Developed a strategic plan and pilot program goals, guidelines, and benchmarks.Partnered on a Homeless & Health Systems Pilot: Collaboration with health systems is essential for an effective homelessness response system. In 2020, Sacramento Steps Forward entered into a partnership with the four regional systems in the county: UC Davis, CommonSpirit Health (formerly Dignity Health), Kaiser Permanente, and Sutter Health. A pilot program titled Healthcare and Homelessness, supported by the national group Community Solutions, provided the opportunity for us to explore common interests and innovative solutions. A primary goal was to develop collaborative cr

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 93.8%; rating input score 94
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -24.3%; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.81; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.22; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4%; rating input score 59; 59th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 10.3% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 10.7% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 30.4% per year; rating input score 100; 96th percentile among comparable filings