Next Steps The Colony

ESTABLISHED IN 2019, NEXT STEPS (NS) IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN THE COLONY WITH A MISSION TO SERVE RESIDENTS IN IMMEDIATE CRISIS. AFTER WORKING FOR ANOTHER DALLAS-FORT WORTH (DFW) HOMELESS SERVICES ORGANIZATION THAT DISCONTINUED SERVICES IN THE COLONY, NS FOUNDER PAMELA DE SANTIAGO DECIDED THAT THE OFTEN-HIDDEN NEEDS OF ITS RESIDENTS IN CRISIS COULD NOT GO UNMET. PRIOR TO NS, MOST RESIDENTS SEEKING HELP DURING A CRISIS WENT FROM CHURCH TO CHURCH OR ORGANIZATION TO ORGANIZATION; THERE WERE NO ONGOING, CONSISTENT, COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES AVAILABLE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. AT THAT TIME, SEVERAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS FROM LOCAL CHURCHES WERE SERVING AS INFORMAL CASE MANAGERS WITH NO EXPERIENCE AND VERY LIMITED RESOURCES. NOW, NS FILLS THIS GAP IN SERVICES BY HELPING RESIDENTS OF THE COLONY OVERCOME BARRIERS ON THEIR WAY TO FINANCIAL STABILITY AND A SUCCESSFUL LIFE. NS PROVIDES THIS HELP THROUGH FINANCIAL AND EMPLOYMENT COACHING AND FOOD AND HOUSING SUPPORT.

IN 2022, NEXT STEPS THE COLONY OPENED A TEMPORARY HOME FOR AT RISK WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. THIS HOME IS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN THE COLONY AND SURROUNDING CITIES. THE HOME REQUIRED INTERIOR RENOVATIONS TO BE MADE BEFORE IT COULD BE USED AS A GROUP HOME AND IT WAS ONLY THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF A LARGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT THIS WORK WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

IN 2022 WE CONTINUED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ANOTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, MUST CARE. MUST CARE IS A YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM IN THE COLONY AND SURROUNDING AREAS THAT FOCUSES ON HELPING SINGLE PARENTS RAISE THEIR CHILDREN IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES. THE NEED FOR YOUTH MENTORS IN OUR LOCAL K-12 CLASSES IS NEARLY 800 MENTORS. THERE ARE ONLY 76 MENTORS AT THIS TIME, SO WE ARE WORKING TO SUPPORT THIS VITAL PROGRAM ALREADY IN PLACE BY RECRUITING NEW MENTORS TO VOLUNTEER.

2022 SAW THE END OF THE COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDS THAT NEXT STEPS HAD DISTRIBUTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DENTON COUNTY UNITED WAY. THAT SAID, THERE WERE STILL MANY FAMILIES THAT REMAINED IN CRISIS, AND WE HAVE BEEN "BRIDGING THE GAP" WITH THEM AS PART OF OUR ONGOING SERVICES. HOUSING AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, FOOD ASSISTANCE, AND COUNSELING ARE ALL PART OF OUR OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY. NEXT STEPS IS RECOGNIZED IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE AS THE "GO TO" SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT ORGANIZATION TO DEPEND ON IN A CRISIS. THE COLONY POLICE DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS NEXT STEPS' EFFORTS TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL ILLNESS CHALLENGES.