From Survival to Stability: The Work of First Step Communities Helping the Homeless

Joe Pacheco: [00:00:00] I really think that the program and the connections that we have created and, and cultivated really provide our clients the, the best opportunity to succeed. It's not just enough to say, "Here's a bed. You know, you're on your own."

Jeff Holden: Welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. Our purpose and passion are simple: to highlight the incredible nonprofits that make our community stronger. Each episode is a chance for these organizations to tell their story in their words, sharing not just what they do, but why it matters to the people they serve, to their supporters, and to all of us who believe in the power of community.

Through podcasting, we hope to amplify their voices, inspire connection, and give them one more tool to impact the hearts [00:01:00] of donors, partners, and neighbors alike. Our work is made possible through the generous support of our partners. CapTrust, offering fiduciary advice for endowments and foundations.

Western Health Advantage, a local not-for-profit health plan that believes healthcare is more than coverage, it's about caring. Core, executive leadership and comprehensive support services. They work in it so you can work on it. And Five Star Bank, a local trusted advisor to community nonprofits for over 25 years.

Our episode sponsor is Sacramento Venture Philanthropy, a community of generosity combining people, expertise, and capital for good. What would you do if tonight you had nowhere to sleep, no idea where your next meal would come from, and no way to charge your phone? That's where my conversation with Joe Pacheco of First Step Communities begins, and it puts the realities of [00:02:00] homelessness into immediate perspective.

With four shelters and 415 beds, First Step Communities provides a safe place to stay alongside the support people need to reconnect with the world. That includes dedicated case managers, healthcare, mental health counseling, employment assistance, and help navigating the path to permanent housing. Joe shares why radical hospitality matters, why welcoming someone's pet can make the difference between accepting shelter and staying outside, and how partnerships bring essential services directly to shelter residents.

We also discuss The Grove, which serves young adults ages 18 to 24, many of whom have aged out of foster care. One of the most meaningful parts of our conversation is Samantha's story. After 25 years in and out of homelessness, she found the support she needed to move into her own apartment. Two years later, she remains housed.

And getting someone housed is only part of the work. [00:03:00] Joe reports that 95% of clients receiving the organization's year-long aftercare support remain housed after that year. This conversation gave me a deeper understanding of what becomes possible when safety, trust, healthcare, and consistent support come together.

Joe Pacheco, welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. 

Joe Pacheco: Oh, thank you very much. 

Jeff Holden: You know, I am blown away by the scope of service First Step Community provides for homelessness. I really had no idea, and until I got into what you provide with the organization, I didn't know you had so much depth. And then, of course, in our discovery call, I learned a lot more about it.

For somebody who's just hearing about the organization, give us a little background, would you? 

Joe Pacheco: Okay. Yeah. Let me start with a question, or ask you and the audience a question. Imagine that you, tonight, you had to sleep outside. [00:04:00] You didn't know where you were gonna sleep. You didn't know where your next meal was gonna come from.

Tomorrow, when your phone battery dies, you have no idea how you're gonna recharge it, and maybe you never recharge it. And all of a sudden, you are disconnected from really the world. Well, there's unfortunately a large growing number of people in our community that that's their first day of homelessness, and it goes on and on and on Long story short, First Step Communities, we are a homeless service provider here in Sacramento.

We're local. We started here in Sacramento. All of our programs are here in Sacramento County. We run interim shelters or emergency shelters for people experiencing homelessness. Every single night, there's four hundred and fifteen people living in our shelters. Long-term, it's not a night-by-night. [00:05:00] Once they come into our shelters, they stay as long as they want with wraparound services.

They're just wrapped in care and support. Our team, I have a fabulous team that connects everyone who comes to our shelters with-- We connect them to healthcare. We connect them to benefits and employment opportunities and housing navigation to get them back into a, what we would all call a, a normal rhythm of life.

And it's, it's just incredibly difficult to do that when you're on your own, living-- n-not knowing where you're gonna sleep, not knowing where your next meal's gonna come from. If you're in a situation like that, you don't have the mental energy to start making plans. You're worried and scared. You're in that fight, flight, or freeze mode for a long time And, and most of the people who come to us, they've been out there in that mode of survival for more than a year.

80% [00:06:00] of everyone who comes to our shelters have been homeless for over a year. Wow. And about 60% of them have been homeless for three years or longer. It's been a very, very long time. Our shelters accept people... Really, we, we don't put any barriers on who comes to our shelters. We consider ourselves low barrier, and that's kind of a vague term.

We put almost no barriers. We, we take people with dogs. Two of our shelters take animals. I saw that. Dog- dogs and pets. 

Jeff Holden: Which I'm learning is a really big deal too, 

Joe Pacheco: because not all do. It's a... Oh, it's such a huge barrier for people. On the street, your dog is your... They're your companion, they're your family, right?

But more than that, they're your security. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: I mean, dogs will get up and bark at the slightest noise. They're gonna keep you alert to dangers, and they're your family, and people don't wanna get rid of them. Would, [00:07:00] would you wanna get rid of your cat or dog or animal? No one wants to. And that, that presents a barrier for people to getting in.

We run two shelters. There are others, but we run two shelters that accept dogs, cats. Really, we've had ferrets. We've had birds. If, if it's a small pet and it can stay with the person, they're, they're welcome. But on top of that, the predictable consequences of being out on the street for so long is that people have some adjustment issues.

Mm. There's some behaviors that are pretty predictable when you have that kind of trauma in your life long term, and we welcome them. And we don't, we don't just welcome them, we want them, and that's what we do. 

Jeff Holden: I was waiting for that word trauma to come out because it just, it's all I could think about- Yeah

especially with your opening question of what if that happened. That in itself is traumatic because of the [00:08:00] uncertainty and unfamiliarity of it all and what to do. But when it protracts and goes on and on and on, and it doesn't get better and you don't know what to do- Yeah ... certainly it takes its toll.

And- 

Joe Pacheco: Absolutely ... it, it- It's, it's actually, you know, scientifically predictable. If, if your basic needs aren't met and you're in that fear mode for an extended amount of time Our executive, like decision-making function, it predictably just diminishes. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: And the longer and longer you're in there, the worse that becomes.

But it's reversible. You know, it takes time. People... It takes a long time for people to feel comfortable again and safe. When you don't feel safe, all you're worrying about is your safety. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: When we feel safe, then we can start making plans for ourselves. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah, and, and logical decisions and, and- Yeah

well-thought decisions 'cause you're not in that panic- Yep ... you know, flight or fight mode of- 

Joe Pacheco: [00:09:00] Exactly ... 

Jeff Holden: where's tomorrow? 

Joe Pacheco: Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: If there is a tomorrow, which I'm sure hope is a big part, but we'll get to that in, in- Yeah ... just a second. When you originally, or when the organization originally started, I think you've been there for a little over five years now.

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Started in 2015, correct? 

Joe Pacheco: The company started in 2015. 

Jeff Holden: Okay. 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. And prior to that, our founder, Steve Waters, he was involved as a volunteer in homeless services for years and years. He started First Step Communities really because he saw, he saw a need. Those people with the deep needs- 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm ... 

Joe Pacheco: the, the, the really complicated challenges, he didn't see a place for them.

These are people who would Not be accepted or they'd quickly get kicked out of other shelters. He wanted a place for them. And so he started ver- at the very beginning, he ran a c- a program called The Winter Sanctuary, and he had... It was really neat. He, he had partnerships with about eight different churches in Midtown, [00:10:00] and he would...

People, during the winter, bad weather months or nights, he'd get buses, he'd charter buses, and the churches would open their doors and have people sleep inside the churches, and then in the morning, bus them back over to the Loaves & Fishes area. And he quickly, he quickly realized just talking to people that, you know, we have, we had...

Back then, we had shelters. They're, they were usually n- just night-by-night shelters. They opened their doors at 8:00. They closed their doors in the morning. And there weren't any s- there wasn't any way that people could get help and assistance just getting reconnected to the world. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: So Steve started providing those services.

He got some funding, did an experiment, went to a sh- a willing shelter, and during the day when people were exited, they could come over and talk to a case manager, navigator, someone who [00:11:00] could just assist them. In the first, I think it was three weeks, they housed 85 people. Oh, 

Jeff Holden: gosh. And this is 12, 10, 11, 12 years 

Joe Pacheco: ago.

Yeah. It was a long time ago. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. 

Joe Pacheco: And that success morphed into, "Hey, this experiment worked. Can, can we do it... Can we do some more of it?" And about eight years ago, we got a contract to run our first shelter, and it was 24 hours, wraparound services. Every client who came in got a dedicated person that their go-to person to help them through the process, and it just transformed the way people's experience out of homelessness.

And then that morphed into a second shelter, and then other little programs. Uh, we at First Step took on projects that I think other nonprofits just wouldn't take. We, we ran a, like a sanctioned encampment under the freeway where people could come with their own tent, [00:12:00] just anyone who wanted to come. We would...

They would come in there, and that's when... That's the program I ran when I first came in to First Step Communities, and it was, quite honestly, it was hilarious fun because these were people that traditionally would say, "No, I'm not going to a shelter," or, "I've been to a shelter and that was terrible. I'm not doing it again."

And we were able to Engage with them where they were and bring services to them instead of having them go all over, you know, all over town trying to find services. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. 

Jeff Holden: Right? 

Joe Pacheco: Right. So that's how we started, and now it's morphed into we've got... We have four shelters, like I said earlier, 415 beds every single night.

Which 

Jeff Holden: is an astounding number. 

Joe Pacheco: It's... And we're full all the time. 

Jeff Holden: Uh, yeah, that I can appreciate. 

Joe Pacheco: Yes. As soon as a b- if a bed comes open, universally, almost every day, that bed's filled the next day. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: Unfortunately, there's way more people needing [00:13:00] a shelter bed than there are beds available. So we stay full, and we just wrap people with kindness.

You know, we call it radical hospitality. Our, our staff just... We want th- those first two weeks to be, like, we, we want, we want everyone's needs met. We want you to stay. 

Jeff Holden: Yes. 

Joe Pacheco: And, and that's not easy. Some people get nervous. They're scared. But yeah, we have, we have four shelters. We also run a weather... We still run a weather respite program.

Jeff Holden: And as we speak today, as we're- Yeah ... recording this episode, I saw on the website there's a heat relief- 

Joe Pacheco: There is ... 

Jeff Holden: center for people to go to. Yep. It happens to be summer as we're recording this. It's 104 degrees out. 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: And that's a hot day in Sacramento. 

Joe Pacheco: It is. We've opened our doors, and we provide water, an air-conditioned building, restrooms, and then we also have someone dedicated, if that pers- if anyone in there is looking to get engaged and enter [00:14:00] into the coordinated access system, like, that's, that's the system for getting into shelter beds, then we have someone dedicated there that, that does those referrals.

And it, it keeps people really from having heatstroke and dying from the heat and- Mm-hmm ... and dehydration. So we also provide everyone who shows up a meal. So if it's hot outside, come to the A Street Shelter, come to a county weather respite. There's resources there, a- and there's people there that are, are willing to help.

Jeff Holden: You know, you mentioned the word interim, interim housing, and that's a huge envelopment of opportunity. Yeah. A- and you're addressing it here, how you're actually capturing those who would be perfect candidates. You just gotta get them comfortable with the fact that- Yeah ... there's an opportunity for them here.

What does that look like? How do they then go from the awareness that you exist, the invitation from your people, and I understand that there's a, a [00:15:00] little bit of a logjam in terms of availability, but then- Sure ... if something becomes availability, how do you stay in touch with somebody who is homeless?

Joe Pacheco: That's a very good question. For, for us at First Step, we have, we have a navigation team, w- the coordinated access navigation team, and it's a, it's a team that they're connected to 211. So when someone on... someone calls 211 and they say, "I'm homeless. I need help. I'm not connected to any services," First Step Communities runs a, a team.

We have a nine-person team that goes anywhere in Sacramento County. We go right to where that person is. As long as they tell us where they are or we engage with them on the phone to get them connected to whatever services or benefits or, or, or shelter that they need. It's a wonderful program. It's a fantastic program- Mm-hmm

actually. But the term interim shelter, it's kind of a jargon term. It, it really means emergency shelter. None of our [00:16:00] shelters are designed to be a permanent housing placement. It-- They are by design a temporary place to be, to recover, and then make plans, and then get some support to enact those plans. And hope- And our goal and most of our clients' goals are, "Look, I want out of this, and I just need some-- I need someone to guide me, and I need a place to be."

And we, we provide that place to be. They have an address. Mm-hmm. They have a phone number. They can get their mail. They can engage with the world. We have, uh, computer labs, so they can, they can get on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, and we-- they have help getting and establishing a resume and just reconnecting to the world.

We all connect now digitally, and I think more and more for people experiencing homelessness, that is one of the hugest gaps in, in their ability to engage with the world. [00:17:00] Everything's done online, and there's so many people out there that have zero access to the internet. 

Jeff Holden: And that gets back to that first question.

If you say, "I'm taking away your cell phone"- 

Joe Pacheco: Oh What 

Jeff Holden: do you 

Joe Pacheco: do? 

Jeff Holden: I don't- Literally, what do you do? 

Joe Pacheco: Right. That's a great question. Yeah. I think we all should ask ourselves, what would I do? 

Jeff Holden: Right. 

Joe Pacheco: For most of us, that phone, or us right now, the, you know, my phone's right here. Yours is on the table. Yeah. For most of us, when we go home, it's in our hand almost all night long.

It's, it's just an essential part of our lives now, and people experiencing homelessness now, if they don't have access to just a plug somewhere that they can plug in, they don't have access, 

Jeff Holden: period. Yeah, that's so easy for anybody to imagine because we all have one. You know, we're not gonna put you on the street.

Let me just take away your phone, period. Yeah. It doesn't work today. That day would be traumatic. What am I missing? 

Joe Pacheco: Yep. 

Jeff Holden: What do I not know? What didn't I, [00:18:00] I see? Or whatever it is. Yeah. If you're, if you're working, if you're a student, doesn't matter. Yeah. If you're senior retired, you're connected. 

Joe Pacheco: You think of everything we do in life now.

You want to apply for a job, it's online. 

Jeff Holden: Right. Yeah, you're not gonna walk in the door and knock and say, "Hey, here I am. Here's my application." Yeah. You 

Joe Pacheco: wanna make an appointment at Social Security, you have to do it online. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. 

Joe Pacheco: Interact with, "Hey, I don't have my birth certificate, and I..." You can go to the DMV, you're gonna stand in line.

But if you have, if you have a phone, you can make an appointment, and you don't have to stay there all day- 

Jeff Holden: Right ... 

Joe Pacheco: waiting. So I mean, it's, it's such a limiting factor, and people on the street, people who are living on the street, they do have access to phones. What they don't have access to is charging stations.

Is constantly charged, right. So they're having to find a friendly business, which- is difficult. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: Especially if you're not buying from the business, which is one of the other services we offer. It just m- reminded me. At, at our A Street shelter [00:19:00] at, at the north end of downtown, we have a, what we call a sanitation program.

There's two restrooms up front. They're open to anybody. They're the only public restrooms within a mile radius, and from 8:00 AM till 9:00 PM, anyone can come in there and use those restrooms. Mm. And we will securely charge your phone for free for anybody. So that's at the North A shelter. And, and that's a 

Jeff Holden: big deal.

That is 

Joe Pacheco: a big deal. It's a huge deal. And for anyone who doesn't have a phone, we have a free phone, landline phone right there that anyone can use. You can call mom, you can call your sister, you can call 211- Yeah ... to get services, and it's free, and it's available. 

Jeff Holden: Let's talk about the activity of engagement.

Once somebody's- Yeah ... in one of the shelters, and you're actually working with them- 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah ... 

Jeff Holden: you... I think we, we all talk, "Hey, we could fix this with just a bunch of houses. We could just do a bunch of mini houses, stick them out in the middle of nowhere, and everybody can go there." No, that's not gonna work because [00:20:00] there's got to be services.

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: There's got to be provision for mental health, wellness, physical health and wellness, and opportunity and, and some education on how to use the technology today. 

Joe Pacheco: Absolutely. 

Jeff Holden: You are a 360 provider. 

Joe Pacheco: Yep. 

Jeff Holden: So when somebody comes into one of the facilities, it's not just, "We have you housed. You're good." No.

'Cause that's not the answer, and we have people in recovery. We have substance abuse. 

Joe Pacheco: Yep. 

Jeff Holden: You know, s- some mental health issues, trauma that, as you said and we know, can be rectified, but it takes time. 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: So you do all of that. 

Joe Pacheco: We do it all. 

Jeff Holden: Walk us through that. 

Joe Pacheco: On day one, when you come into our shelters, you are greeted by our team of people.

We do an intake interview with people, and as much information as they're willing to share on day one, we'll take. That first two weeks, though, we're really wanting people to [00:21:00] feel comfortable. Like, we want you here, and whatever you, what your needs are, we wanna fulfill for those first two weeks. 75% of the people who just disappear from our shelters, they disappear in those first two weeks.

Jeff Holden: Hmm. That makes sense. 

Joe Pacheco: And once they're gone, we d- I don't know why they went. They, they just don't come back. So we make a concerted effort that those first two weeks you're gonna have face... We have people there 24/7, 365, and our case management team is meeting with those new folks every day, at least a hello at a minimum.

We're like, "How you doing? What do you need?" And we can keep them. Every single client gets a full assess- like a crisis assessment, which will identify what, what medical needs do they have? Do they have behavioral health needs or substance use disorder treatment needs? But also, you know, when were you last housed?

What, what, what did you do for work when you were working? And we, we, [00:22:00] we come up with an individualized plan for that one person, and that case manager is their dedicated person. They... That person sticks with them their entire stay at our shelter. Oh, wow. So there's continuity of care. 

Jeff Holden: And, and trust. 

Joe Pacheco: And trust, yes.

So they get to know this person, and trust is a big deal. And we all, everyone at our shelters, we're all constantly working to... I want them to stay. We all want them to stay, and that's not just an emotional sentiment. I have data that backs it. If our clients stay at a shelter for 60 days or longer, they are two times more likely to enter permanent housing 

Jeff Holden: And permanent housing isn't just 'cause somebody gave 'em a place to stay.

Permanent housing- No ... means you've earned 

Joe Pacheco: the ability- Permanent housing means they've done everything that they need to do ... to do it. Yes. They've taken the steps. They've made the plans. They've found work. They've saved money. They've taken... We have some classes and some programming that people can go through.

[00:23:00] We have a wonderful class called Ready to Rent. It's a six-week course. And for people who've been out of the housing world, if they haven't been housed, you know, it's changed a lot. 

Jeff Holden: Well, especially if you're talking three years plus. 

Joe Pacheco: Yes. 

Jeff Holden: A lot. 

Joe Pacheco: So it, it's how do you engage with the landlord? How do you apply?

How... Everything's online, so we're teaching them that as well. But more than that, we bring in... We have a bunch of partners. I, I can't tell you how many. It's a bunch. 

Jeff Holden: You, you're leading right into the next question. 

Joe Pacheco: Next question. Okay. 

Jeff Holden: That is, that is literally right where we're 

Joe Pacheco: going is collaborate. We don't do this alone at all.

It... In fact, we can't do it alone. Yeah. We... There, there's not enough money. There's not enough people in my team to do it all. We, we partner with about 37, I think it's exactly 37, nonprofits and other government agencies that bring services at our shelter so that eliminates transportation barriers. It, it brings the services right to, to our shelters.

So- 

Jeff Holden: And those are your literal engaged [00:24:00] partners. You have a periphery that's in hundreds, I would imagine. 

Joe Pacheco: Oh, 

Jeff Holden: absolutely. Just awareness. 

Joe Pacheco: Just volunteers and people who donate and, and small groups that have just these niche services that maybe- Yes ... one client needs. We have connections with all those. But the big, really big ones- 

Jeff Holden: Yes

Joe Pacheco: right, we have a wonderful partnership with Life Practice Counseling Group. They're a nonprofit mental health provider, and together we have figured out a way to bring on-site therapy to every single one of our shelters. 

Jeff Holden: Oh, that's huge. That is a huge deal. 

Joe Pacheco: It is, and it's free for our clients. So almost all of our clients are eligible for Medi-Cal, but for those who maybe they're disconnected from Medi-Cal, it's gonna take a month or two to get all of that started, right?

We have grants. Sacramento Regional Community Foundation, they've given First Step Communities a grant so that people that are not yet on Medi-Cal or not on the right managed care plan, [00:25:00] we can pay for their therapy until they do get it. 

Jeff Holden: Oh, so it's a beautiful bridge. 

Joe Pacheco: And it guarantees that every single client who wants and needs one-on-one therapy, they have access to it at every shelter.

Kaiser Permanente, they have donated to that fund. And then we have healthcare, physical healthcare partners. Elica Health brings their big medical bus. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah, that mobile 

Joe Pacheco: vehicle they've got. Every, every Wednesday, they're right in front of our shelter. And then there are... Wellness Without Walls is another nonprofit, physical health nonprofit.

They're affiliated with UC Davis School of Nursing. They come out and operate free clinics at every single one of our shelters now And, and the Willow Clinic, which is affiliated with the UC Davis Medical School, they run a free clinic every Saturday at our A Street shelter, and it's open to anyone. And that's not by accident either because we, we have also...

We also [00:26:00] know that our clients who see a physical health doctor just one time, just once, they're 40% more likely to go into permanent housing. If they get their meds, if actually they get their prescriptions from the pharmacy and they have them in their hand, they're 60% more likely to achieve permanent housing.

Jeff Holden: Wow. 

Joe Pacheco: Health, in the healthcare, if you're diabetic and you don't have your medicine, how good are you gonna feel? 

Jeff Holden: Right. 

Joe Pacheco: Right? If you have a behavioral health need and you don't have the medicine that you need, well, you're not gonna be well enough to start making plans and, and feeling well enough to really think about yourself.

Darrell Teat: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: It's, it's extremely important. And the therapy's important, too. Uh, we have a transitional age youth shelter, and for, for those young people who see our on-site therapist, 80% of them leave our shelter to permanent housing, meaning they've done everything that they were s- they need to do, getting the job, saving their money, [00:27:00] planning, getting everything in order so they can go out and rent their own place.

Jeff Holden: And all of those elements are bits and pieces of the program. 

Joe Pacheco: Yes. 

Jeff Holden: You know, the understanding and the process to employment, the, the, the, the practices that are necessary, starting from acceptance and entry to exit. Is there a, is there a duration that's on average? 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. I think for, for people who leave to permanent housing, the average stay is about nine months.

Jeff Holden: Okay. 

Joe Pacheco: So I, I mean, I wanna emphasize it's, it, this is not an overnight deal. We at First Step, we're in it for the long haul, as long as our clients are in, in for it also. And we, we have, we have really good success rates. But it is nine months on average. But- 

Jeff Holden: I'm thinking that sounds short to me because- Yeah

if we're trying to correct a homelessness situation, if it was diminishing on one end, 'cause, 'cause it will, eventually you'll [00:28:00] accommodate people, and it should diminish, so the feeder element is, is lessening- Yeah ... because you're putting people out back into the environment that are productive. 

James Beckwith: Right. 

Jeff Holden: And th- these are the things that make me crazy.

We've had a couple of organizations that have come on to where you could see if we did this this way more often, it would fix the problem or greatly reduce the issue. And it's so frustrating to think you only have 415. Right. Why don't, why don't you have 2,000, right? 

Joe Pacheco: Exactly. 

Jeff Holden: And, and I know it's not that easy But we know what kind of money has been out there for homelessness, and we hear those staggering numbers.

It's- That's the frustration. You hear this and think- 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah ... 

Jeff Holden: ju- just why? 

Joe Pacheco: And I'm telling you, as a, as a nonprofit operator, I, I read those stories [00:29:00] also, and they're just maddening. It, it's just maddening- 

James Beckwith: Yeah ... 

Joe Pacheco: that there, there are organizations or people like that that are taking advantage of this. If I can, First Step Communities, we, we are committed to fiscal responsibility.

We do receive government dollars. Um, I'm not... I mean, any nonprofit who does what I do is taking government dollars. We self-audit every year. Five years in a row, First Step Communities has had a absolutely squeaky clean financial audit, and we do the audits that are needed for the federal government, which are even more intensive and, quite frankly, more expensive for my company to pay for.

But we do that, and we publish the results of those to Charity Navigator, to, to the websites that track charities, and because I want everyone to know, I want you to know, I want the public to know that [00:30:00] when they give us money, that money is going to be used for what you intended that money to go towards.

Jeff Holden: And 

Joe Pacheco: I- And we're good stewards of government money. 

Jeff Holden: I did see on the website you have that front and center. It's on your homepage if you scroll. I recognized your pride in that because- Yeah ... it's right there. In many cases, it's not as visible, not that that's a different- Right ... quality organization. Just, it just isn't typically up front like that.

Joe Pacheco: Right. 

Jeff Holden: On yours, it's, it's front and center. 

Joe Pacheco: It's front and center, and it's imp- it's definitely important to me. That mean... Our, our four-star Charity Navigator means that we are the top of nonprofit transparency. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: We publish our tax returns. We, we publish our audits, the full, the full text of our financial audits.

Anyone who is interested can come and look at that, and that's int- that's... I think that's important to our, our business partners. It's important to our clients because it, it assures that the [00:31:00] money that's given to us from, from either philanthropy or government sources, that we're good stewards of that money.

Jeff Holden: We'll be back with more from Joe Pacheco and First Step Communities right after we hear from those who make this program possible. 

James Beckwith: I'm James Beckwith, president and CEO of Five Star Bank. We're dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations who advocate for the strength, resilience, and vitality of those they serve.

When nonprofit organizations thrive, our community does too. By supporting the Nonprofit Podcast Network, Five Star Bank is amplifying the voices and meaningful impact of our nonprofit community. We're Five Star Bank, a trusted nonprofit partner. How can we help you? 

Darrell Teat: Hi, I'm Derrell Tete with CXORE. Here's a question for every executive leader: How much of your time is being spent on things that keep you away from actually leading?[00:32:00] 

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That's CXORE. Learn more at C-X-O-R-E, cxore.com. 

Scott Thomas: Hello, this is Scott Thomas with CapTrust in our Sacramento office. I specialize in working with local nonprofits and associations. Annually, we survey private and public nonprofit organizations across the country to better understand challenges they see in today's environment.

In our more recent survey, we heard concerns about proper board governance, mission-aligned investment, and how to implement alternate investments. If you would like a copy of the survey or to discuss your organization, look me up, scottthomas@captrust.com. [00:33:00] 

Jeff Holden: At Western Health Advantage, healthcare isn't just a service, it's a shared value.

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Brad Squires: Hi, I'm Brad Squires, CEO of Sacramento Venture Philanthropy.

For more than a decade, [00:34:00] SVP has brought together local donors, business leaders, and nonprofit change-makers to do philanthropy differently. Through pooled funding, hands-on mentorship, and programs like Fast Pitch and 100X, SVP helps nonprofits build real long-term capacity, not just short-term solutions. If you're looking to go beyond writing the check and wanna use your experience, your voice, your leadership to create a lasting impact and have a lot of fun doing it, now is the time to join SVP.

Learn more about becoming a partner at svpsacramento.org. 

Jeff Holden: Great segue because what I wanted to ask you about is your funding. How are you funded? 

Joe Pacheco: A big chunk of our money comes from local and state grants for homeless response. So we're-- For our 24/7 shelter staff, I have pretty much full funding for those folks.

James Beckwith: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: For most of my case management, the [00:35:00] people who do the one-on-one work with our clients, I'm funded for about, I'd say, 80% of those staff. And then that leaves some gaps. So my connections to healthcare, so making those happen, just the, the transportation costs. 

Darrell Teat: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: You know, the, the getting the people on site and, and whatever their costs are, I try to cover that.

We use outside grants or we use philanthropy money for those. I'm not funded for aftercare. Hmm. So when someone gets housed, I'm not funded for that. So we use some of our philanthropy money and our grant money to have case managers who are like housing sustainability. So once a person's housed, they have access to a case manager for up to a year And for those clients that we're able to do that for, 95% of them remain housed after that year.

So not only are they housed from a homeless shelter, but they're [00:36:00] sustained and, and they're, they're able to sustain being away from homelessness, hopefully forever. We need funds for that. It is an important service that we provide to some of our clients, and I'd like to provide that to more of them.

Someone that they can call when they have landlord issues or, "Oh, my... I lost my job. What do I do?" You know, and they have someone that they can call for that little bit of support so that they can- Hmm ... keep going and keep succeeding. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah, because they've already placed themselves. 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: They're- 

Joe Pacheco: They're there

they're, they're out there ... out in the community. Yes. They're, they're our neighbors, they're our coworkers. They're, they're people just like you and me that you would have never thought experienced homelessness. 

Jeff Holden: You have a transitioning youth shelter. 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: And, and I know we're on funding, but you, you mentioned something that triggered a, a, a thought.

Is there an average or median age that you see in the services you provide? [00:37:00] 

Joe Pacheco: That's a good question. We do have a transitional age youth shelter. So- 

Jeff Holden: That's typically, what, 

Joe Pacheco: 18 to 24? That's 18 to 24-year-olds. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. 

Joe Pacheco: The majority are foster care age-out- Right ... folks. That's easy, their average age. Our three other shelters are ages, really, they're ages 18 to infinity.

Jeff Holden: Okay. 

Joe Pacheco: We've- 

Jeff Holden: So you do serve all the way up to- We- ... whatever that need is. 

Joe Pacheco: We've, we've had... Unfortunately, we've had people in their 80s come through our shelters. Hmm. I would say the average, average age of someone is probably in the low 40s. 

Jeff Holden: Okay. 

Joe Pacheco: For an average. Predominantly they're, they're people in their late 30s, early 40s, but we...

The, the largest growing segment of homeless today is senior citizens. Seniors, 

Jeff Holden: yes. 

Joe Pacheco: So we are seeing that tick up. Thankfully, because seniors have access to a few more, uh, benefits and programs and housing opportunities, we- we're a bit more successful in getting them housed. So [00:38:00] we're able... Their, their stays with us tend to be shorter, and they tend to be more successful.

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. Which is great. 

Joe Pacheco: Which is f- I think we all want that. Because we don't 

Jeff Holden: want them- 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: It's the last... To see a senior, 60, 70, 80-year-old person- No ... on the street, oh my gosh. 

Joe Pacheco: No, we... No one wants to see that. 

Jeff Holden: Right. 

Joe Pacheco: And we don't wanna see young people who- 

Jeff Holden: Yeah, yeah. Yes, 

Joe Pacheco: not to minimize anybody else, right

that, that don't have that, that don't have that support system that we've all counted on when we were young, and theirs either is gone or it never existed. And for a short time, at The Grove, at our transitional aged youth shelter, we are that support system for- Mm-hmm ... for people. And it's, it's transformative.

It, it really is. 

Jeff Holden: We diverted a little bit from the funding. Let's, let's get back- Okay ... to that. What, what is the total budget you work with-ish? 

Joe Pacheco: I'm, I'm what you would call a medium-sized nonprofit. So for my six programs, I have 155 staff. 

Jeff Holden: You answered the question before I asked it there. Yeah. 

Joe Pacheco: And we had...

Our tax return this year is gonna show that our [00:39:00] operating expenses were about 12 and a half million. 

Jeff Holden: That's, that's a- 

Joe Pacheco: 12 points, 12.7 ... 

Jeff Holden: it's a healthy budget. 

Joe Pacheco: It is a healthy budget. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: But anyone can, you know, get on your calculator and do the math. 

Jeff Holden: Right. 

Joe Pacheco: We're feeding 400 people every day. 

Jeff Holden: Every day.

Joe Pacheco: We're paying sal- what I believe are livable wages for 155 people. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: You know, before I, before I got into management, you know, I would think $12 million, $13 million is a whole lot of money. 

Jeff Holden: Right. 

Joe Pacheco: And it's expensive. 

Jeff Holden: Yes. 

Joe Pacheco: You know? It is expensive, and, and, and I know to the average listener what $12 million sounds like, but I am operating 24/7, 365 centers with beds, with meals, healthcare connections, operating expenses, electricity bills, water [00:40:00] bills- 

Darrell Teat: Mm-hmm

Joe Pacheco: and, and all the like, and, and I'm funded for what I would call the basic services for our clients. And the wishlist items, the things that really, really enhance our clients' experiences, we are relying on philanthropy money to fill those gaps. 

Jeff Holden: Going back to that vision of where the organization could go.

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: You know, we talked about you have X amount of dollars now- Mm-hmm ... to, to service what you do. This is the fun part of the conversation. Yeah. If money weren't an object- 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah ... 

Jeff Holden: you know, and you got that billion dollars that LA seems to have squandered in some way, shape, or form- 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah ... 

Jeff Holden: what would you do?

What would it look like? What would change? I 

Joe Pacheco: think I know exactly what I would do. The blank check s- scenario? 

Jeff Holden: Yes. 

Joe Pacheco: Build a homeless service center, a shelter or a transitional housing center that has a public-facing clinic- Hmm ... [00:41:00] on site so that the people in the community near it have a healthcare center, but there's a backdoor for the shelter clients because our-- my experience, our experience is that the client, the peop- the guests who come to our shelters, they have such high medical and behavioral health needs.

It's an absolute critical service for people to recover from homelessness. I, I believe it's the absolute most critical. You eliminate barriers for people getting treatment. They have access to treatment right away. I would absolutely love it that when my, when my clients who are experiencing substance use disorders, when they finally say, "You know what?

I'm ready. I, I'm done. I'm tired of this. I, I want help," well, I want that bed to be available tonight. And that's what the blank check would pay for. 

Darrell Teat: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: And it would, for those [00:42:00] individuals, until the money runs out- Right ... it would, it would change their lives. 

Jeff Holden: Yep. 

Joe Pacheco: Im- almost immediately. 

Jeff Holden: And we know that when somebody has made that decision, you've gotta capture it at the moment.

Yes. Otherwise... 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. And it's not... I, I don't wanna criticize the, the system that we all rely on. 

Jeff Holden: Oh, no, 

Joe Pacheco: no. But, but anyone who's experiencing substance use disorder, and if you've ever had someone in your life that has unfortunately had that disease, you know, when they're ready for help, help is weeks away.

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: It's very difficult. 

Jeff Holden: Yes. 

Joe Pacheco: Very difficult. And that's just the reality that we- Mm-hmm ... that we live in. And that's where my team's, you know, trust building, relationship building comes in because when people are ready, we're, we're there. We're gonna, we're gonna stick with them until that resource is available.

Jeff Holden: And again, back to a little bit earlier, it seems doable, and it even seems like while there's not unlimited money- 

Joe Pacheco: I think it's absolutely doable ... 

Jeff Holden: it's [00:43:00] doable. These things can be done. They can be built. You've got the experience. Yeah. There's organizations like yourself that, in a collaborative effort, could really minimize this, you know, issue of homelessness- Yeah

done right, done well, done appropriately with the money going where it belongs to go. 

Joe Pacheco: I agree. I keep thinking that what we talked about earlier, it's like we don't do this alone. We all have the same goals, and I actually do believe that regardless of political affiliation or your view of homelessness, I think we all have the goal that we want it to end.

Jeff Holden: Yes. 

Joe Pacheco: Right? That requires a ton of collaboration, everyone from all points of view coming together and, and figuring out, you know, what works, what doesn't work, and let's stop doing what doesn't work, and let's keep doing or enhance what does work. 

Jeff Holden: Right. 

Joe Pacheco: Healthcare works. My team's been keeping data on healthcare connections for the last five years, and [00:44:00] it has transformed how we help our clients.

We prioritize healthcare connections, primary healthcare, behavioral healthcare, and not, just like I said earlier, not because of some emotional, like, philosophy. It's because the numbers don't lie. 

Darrell Teat: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: Because it results in more people succeeding. Also, if we had a center like I was talking about where they had healthcare right there, I can't, I can't enumerate how much money it would save our emergency rooms.

We are spending billions in healthcare money on people who have no other access to healthcare but the emergency room. 

Jeff Holden: Right. 

Joe Pacheco: Let's solve that. 

Jeff Holden: That in itself is reason for the hospital systems to say, "Let's explore this," 'cause it doesn't take a lot of people to add up to a lot of money in an emergency situation.

No. And they're taking away from people who really need the service at some time- Sure ... [00:45:00] in, in an emergency room a- and, and filling beds in a hallway. You know, it's just they're overwhelmed. 

Joe Pacheco: Absolutely. 

Jeff Holden: Obviously there's another- 

Joe Pacheco: At least at a, at, at, at a homeless shelter or we'll call it something else in the future, right?

Yes. This service center, predominantly everyone there is gonna have health insurance, so that any healthcare connected service center is gonna have a reasonable means of sustaining that service and get paid for it. 

Jeff Holden: And we know prevention's so much better than- 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. Yeah. And saving the system as a whole billions upon billions of dollars.

Mm-hmm. I will hang my hat on that. Healthcare works. 

Jeff Holden: Greatest need. We come back to reality. 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Now you're in the office, it's today. 

Joe Pacheco: Yep. 

Jeff Holden: What is the greatest need? 

Joe Pacheco: I think I said it earlier. I'm not funded for some of those specialized services. I'm not funded for therapy, and very clearly, statistically and, and data shows it absolutely works.

James Beckwith: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: Folks who've been [00:46:00] living on the street for over a year, that, that is trauma in and of itself Tack on to that, they have years of trauma, childhood trauma that they're still ex- I can't tell you how many of my clients that I just sit and talk to, and they're talking to me ab- They're f- 45 years old, and they're talking about a childhood trauma that they still haven't resolved, or a series of traumas.

Therapy is number one. Healthcare connections. 

James Beckwith: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: Dollars donated can help an individual get into housing. Most of our clients have had some adverse experiences with their housing. Maybe there's an eviction on their record. They lost a job. Maybe they have a bad PG&E bill that never got paid. Small amounts of money to eliminate those, now it makes them eligible for that next apartment.

But also housing funds, like rapid rehousing funds- 

Darrell Teat: Mm-hmm ... 

Joe Pacheco: they make people's [00:47:00] time in homelessness much, much shorter. And you can, you can Google rapid rehousing research. There's, there's a bunch of social science research on it. It works. We can get people into housing sooner. They are stabilized sooner.

They recover sooner. They stay out of homelessness. I can use funds for that. And then I need money for staff who support and follow my folks after they're housed because I want them to have- Mm-hmm ... long-term success. I don't want them just to get any old apartment for any old reason. I want them to have long-term success and support because they need it.

We all need it. 

Jeff Holden: Right. 

Joe Pacheco: When I moved out, I called Mom almost every day, right? I'm, I'm thinking of our youth shelter, but all the support that I had, and when I was broke and I, you know, I didn't have money for groceries, I'd mo- there was always Mom. And our, and our clients [00:48:00] at our youth shelter, they don't have that support network.

If they're broke, they don't eat. 

Jeff Holden: And that's an unrestricted fund that would just come in and- 

Joe Pacheco: Yep ... 

Jeff Holden: you, you've got the trust built through demonstration and, and transparency to say, "Look, we're gonna be stewarding that money prep- you know, appropriately, properly." Right. And I think that's a big comfort factor for people who are saying, "Ugh, you know, I'm struggling with just giving this money."

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: But now they understand that that's going to a necessity that's going to ensure that individual's sustained housing. 

Joe Pacheco: Absolutely. I-- You said it best. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. Well, thank you. Uh, a- again, it's, it's an issue that we all recognize, and I had the ability to do the homeless count last year. 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Or it was this year, actually, 2026.

It 

Joe Pacheco: was, yeah, just in January. 

Jeff Holden: And it blew me away. The, the people I spoke with and [00:49:00] the ability of them to articulate their situations And their situations. 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: And how simple it would be, not easy, but simple. It's just a simple thing that needs to change to change the trajectory of their lives. 

Joe Pacheco: I agree.

For so many people who are experiencing homelessness, their solution, I'm not gonna say it's easy, but it's- Right ... not incredibly difficult. It's a, it's a stability factor. Once you're out there, it's nearly impossible to reengage with the world. We're, we're disconnected. They just need somewhere to stabilize and reconnect.

We have lots and lots of clients where that's true for them. 

Darrell Teat: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: They, they come in, they stabilize, they're able... Now I have an address, I can get mail, right? If I put job applications out there, I'm gonna be able to, you know, see their responses and, and respond to an interview request. [00:50:00] And, and they're, they can just restart.

They can, they can engage. Right. That's what I call it. They can engage with the world. 

Jeff Holden: And with, with a supportive peer group. 

Joe Pacheco: Yes. 

Jeff Holden: Everybody's in the same space. 

Joe Pacheco: Yes. 

Jeff Holden: Different levels, different- 

Joe Pacheco: Absolutely ... 

Jeff Holden: situations, but still there for support. Yeah. Share a, a human element of it. Okay. Somebody that you've seen go through the, the process all the way to sustained housing.

Joe Pacheco: Okay. I love... There's one client who I love talking about. Her name is Samantha, and it was a couple years ago now. But Sam was in and out of homelessness literally for 25 years, almost her entire adult life. She had lost hope. She'd been to shelters. She'd gotten kicked out of shelters. Go to this program, she got kicked out of there.

She just was having... She had a hard time. And the very last time she got into a shelter, she came to First Step Communities, and we wrapped her in that [00:51:00] radical hospitality. Our team was ready for the, the, the predictable behaviors of being out in the street. She had lost hope, and she had turned to drugs, and she was struggling with addiction.

But we kept her. And this time she, she had connections to healthcare. We got her into an outpatient substance use program. She took advantage of our on-site therapy. And for the first time in 25 years, she was able to get her own apartment, and it was such a success for her. I, I really think that the program and the s- and the connections that we have created and, and cultivated really provide our clients the, the best opportunity to succeed.

It's not just enough to say, "Here's a bed. You know, you're on your own." 

James Beckwith: Mm-hmm. [00:52:00] 

Joe Pacheco: Some people can do that. Lots of my clients can do that. That's... I'm not saying they can't, but when you've been out there for that long, for so many years, reconnecting with the... The world has changed for you if it's been even five years, 10 years Sam, Sam is one of our favorite success stories because it, her experience really goes to our mission, just why we started the company.

The people that just didn't fit in other programs, those are the folks that our founder, Steve Waters, wanted to serve. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: And Sam was one of those folks. And sh- and she's still housed two years later, and it's... And she'll likely- She's gonna be housed for the rest of her life, and she's gonna be fine, and I, and I'm so proud of that, that our team was able to do that.

Jeff Holden: And I think that you, the listener, if you're doing what I'm doing, I'm listening to you, Joe, [00:53:00] tell me a story about Samantha, I'm visualizing Samantha, and I'm thinking 25 years of unhoused- 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah ... 

Jeff Holden: is a long time, and then I'm seeing that person on the street, substance abuse, and I think I know what she looks like.

Joe Pacheco: Sure. 

Jeff Holden: And as you're explaining, where I'm having the difficult time is, oh my gosh, what does she look like as my neighbor? 

Joe Pacheco: Wouldn't that... And you wouldn't know. 

Jeff Holden: Right. 

Joe Pacheco: Which is the really interesting part. 

Jeff Holden: You wouldn't 

Joe Pacheco: know. You would not know. 

Jeff Holden: Yep. 'Cause now- Yeah ... she's successfully housed. Absolutely. I'm assuming she has some sort of employment or something that she's doing.

You know, 25 years on the street, just do the math. She's- Sure ... you know, late 40s, early 50s. Probably ear- Maybe a little older ... probably 

Joe Pacheco: mid-50s, yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Right? And so we, we can see this individual, and I think understanding that that is what you are doing, and this is a little bit on the higher side because she's beyond your, you [00:54:00] know, average age-ish.

Right. But nonetheless, just imagine that for somebody who's 30 or 35- Right ... or 40 or 45- Yeah ... you know, or, or 18 trying to just get started. Yep. And we can visualize that individual, and I think we can visualize the process. 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. Absolutely. 

Jeff Holden: And, and what... Th- th- you said it. The thing we can't visualize is that's your next-door neighbor because now they've fully integrated.

Joe Pacheco: It, it's funny you say that. We talk about it. It, it's actually one of our policies. That's what I'm hoping for everyone who comes to our shelters. When you go on our website, and you can see it right behind me, we... I'm not gonna say never, but we almost never show our clients' faces on our website or in our social media.

That's their story to tell. 

James Beckwith: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: My hope is that they, when they achieve housing, they go on to do great things. And no one would ever know that they were ever living in a homeless shelter [00:55:00] because you won't, you wouldn't. And, and not- Because they're just, they're, they are us. 

Jeff Holden: Right. 

Joe Pacheco: They, they're not some other type of person.

Right. They are us. 

Jeff Holden: And that's what's important, the acceptance of that, that that person that you see on the street, for the most part, I mean, there are some who really do need significant help- Yes ... but for the most part, that person is like us, and we're... All of us are only a few steps away from something- Right

going wrong- 

Joe Pacheco: Yes ... 

Jeff Holden: to where we've got that issue. 

Joe Pacheco: Yes. And, and for people who are having significant problems on the street, people you see, let's just elephant in the room, someone you see that's just horribly intoxicated on, on, on the street You are, you are seeing their addiction. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: You're not seeing them as a person.

Jeff Holden: Correct. 

Joe Pacheco: With help, with their determination, it's a lot of work on their side, they can manage their addiction. Everyone who's battling addiction will say, "Once an addict, always an [00:56:00] addict," right? One day at a time. But it's manageable, and that, that person is there. 

Darrell Teat: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: I personally know more than a dozen people, some of them are my, my employees, who have recovered from that horrible addiction, and, and they are no...

They're, they're unrecognizable today. It's almost like they're a different person. 

James Beckwith: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: That's one thing I would implore people, that when you're encountering people, just know that the person you're encountering there is, you're encountering their trauma, their just psychological pain. The person is down there.

The person is there, but they are experiencing such grief, sorrow, loss, and hopelessness. I would just ask people, think about how you would react, because I know how I would react. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: If I was living out on the street on [00:57:00] a Sacramento February night, and I didn't know where to go, I would take any substance that made that feeling go away.

And I think most of us would. When you, when you finally think, "That's not... It's never gonna get better for me-" 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. "... 

Joe Pacheco: what do you do?" 

Jeff Holden: And the sad part is, once that starts, it only gets worse. 

Joe Pacheco: It does. And it doesn't take that long. 

Jeff Holden: Right. And as you were saying- Yeah ... relative to, you know, that first night, then the second, the third- Right

the fourth, the longer it goes- Yeah ... obviously the worse it gets. 

Joe Pacheco: Yep. 

Jeff Holden: Let's transition for a second. 

Joe Pacheco: Okay. 

Jeff Holden: I feel it because I'm sitting across from you. The listener doesn't, and, and if they're watching, maybe they see a little bit more of it. But I, I sense your passion for it and your enjoyment for the outcome- 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah

Jeff Holden: and the engagement in the business as it is. So let's learn a little bit about Joe for a [00:58:00] second. Oh, fun. We're gonna go... This is the fun part. Yeah, we're gonna go beyond the mission here. 

Joe Pacheco: Okay. 

Jeff Holden: And, and just some, some quick rapid fire stuff. 

Joe Pacheco: Okay. 

Jeff Holden: All right. I'm curious on this one. I'm even curious because I can't tell looking at you.

Early bird or night owl? 

Joe Pacheco: Oh. Night owl 

Jeff Holden: Okay. 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Go-to comfort food? 

Joe Pacheco: Oh my gosh, it's such junk. 

Jeff Holden: Of course it is. 

Joe Pacheco: It's junk. It's comfort food. Um, you know, uh, a bag of Doritos would be- I love it ... would be my absolute, like, pleasure comfort. 

Jeff Holden: Well, football season's just starting now- That's right ... as we're sitting, so there you go.

Joe Pacheco: My problem is, is once I open it, even if it's that family size, it's gone. Been there, 

Jeff Holden: done that. Mine's the same way. Yeah. It's like can't stop. Favorite vacation destination? 

Joe Pacheco: Oh, lots of green. The mountains. 

Jeff Holden: Okay. What's one thing people might be surprised to learn about you? 

Joe Pacheco: Oh. Before I- I didn't [00:59:00] train. I didn't really...

I, I have a sociology degree, but I never really studied homelessness. I had a completely different career, and I, I almost by accident fell into this line of service. I- 

Jeff Holden: And, and I just happen to know it was a criminal justice. It looked like the route you were going. 

Joe Pacheco: Right. 

Jeff Holden: That's a whole nother conversation- Right

to, to have with you. Yes But- 

Joe Pacheco: So I was, uh, we'll say semi-retired. And COVID happened. I was at home doing all the honey do lists that I had thought of, and my wife was sent home from work, and all of a sudden I'm kind of in the way and making too much noise. So I went and volunteered at a homeless center.

Wow. And I, and I absolutely fell in love with it. And, uh, s- First Step Communities needed someone to run that program that was under the freeway, and I put my hat in the ring, and that's how I got involved, and I never looked back. It was, and has been, [01:00:00] and still is one of the most fulfilling jobs I've ever had.

Jeff Holden: And, and I see it. You know, I, I, I see it. I feel it, you know, just the energy of your engagement with it all. How about somebody you admire? 

Joe Pacheco: That's a good question. He's gone. He's retired. He's no longer my boss, so I think I'm not, like, kissing up to him, but this company's founder, Steven Waters, is one of the most remarkable people that I've ever met.

He started this company as a one-man show, making zero money, probably putting his own money into it. He has such the deepest passion for people that, of anyone I've ever seen, I, I really do admire him. He built something that is absolutely beautiful. 

Jeff Holden: And isn't it great to have not only that, but the ability to be running it?

Joe Pacheco: Oh, it's, it- 

Jeff Holden: You're controlling the, uh- 

Joe Pacheco: It, it's such an honor ... 

Jeff Holden: you know, the reins on it. 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah, I know. It's [01:01:00] enormous shoes to fill. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. 

Joe Pacheco: Believe me. Very enormous shoes. Doesn't... It, it causes me no small amount of stress. Well- No, and you- Yeah, 

Jeff Holden: that's what we're, we're helping you alleviate- Right ... just a little bit of that right here.

How about a, a chapter of your life that explains a lot about who you are? 

Joe Pacheco: I, I'm the son of an immigrant, and I grew up with that, you know, that constant reminder of how good we have it here in the United States. It, it's a, a family perspective that I think only children of immigrants have, really, or maybe not, but it, it's...

I think it, it really did inform my outlook on life. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: I've been where my dad grew up, and I've seen real poverty. If you can, if you can do it, go, go somewhere else in the world. 

James Beckwith: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: You'll have a much [01:02:00] better appreciation for our society. I- believe me. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. So you're first generation? 

Joe Pacheco: Half, 'cause my mom is, you know, multi-generational- Okay

American. Yeah, so I, I, I just had that 

Jeff Holden: different- It's, it's rare today, you know, in, in assimilation factor, especially- Yeah ... for, you know, certain ethnicities. 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: The assumption is, oh, you're second, third, fourth, came over to Ellis Island- Right ... you know, back in the- Yeah ... you know, teens or 

Joe Pacheco: whatever. But for my dad's side of the family, yeah, I was the, I was the firstborn child here in the US.

What 

Jeff Holden: an experience. That's, that's... I think that's a- Yeah ... wonderful experience. How about- 

Joe Pacheco: And, and the first, the first person on either side of my family to go to college. 

Jeff Holden: Wow. 

Joe Pacheco: Which was... Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: I, I could probably answer this for you, but I'll let you do it because I think we've heard it through and resonate in the conversation.

In one sentence, what are you grateful for today? 

Joe Pacheco: That would be a long list. I'm [01:03:00] grateful for my health. I'm, I'm 54 years old. I'm walking, I'm talking, and I'm able to have meaningful work, and, and I'm grateful for that. Um, and I'm grateful to be of service to somebody. Mm-hmm. I know that sounds really mushy, but in my daily work, I see so many people that have lost that.

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: And, uh, gratitude every day. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. Thank you for that. Appreciate it. How can someone listening engage with First Step Communities? What's the best place to go? Bo- both ways. I mean, if somebody just happens to be hearing and, and needs some of the service and- Yeah ... or somebody who's listening to learn more about the organization or donate- Sure

contribute, get involved. 

Joe Pacheco: If you're looking to learn more about us at First Step Communities, first and foremost, go to our website. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Joe Pacheco: It's

firststepcommunities, all one word, .org. 

Jeff Holden: And we [01:04:00] will put that in the show notes too- Yes ... so you don't have to really remember that much. Right. Just remember First Step Communities. 

Joe Pacheco: Right. And we, we're on, we're on Facebook, we're on Instagram. Brittany, who's here with me, posts at least three times a week just trying to put news out there of what's happening at First Step Communities.

You-- There's... If, if you're looking to donate, thank you. You... There's a donation portal on our website. If you're experiencing homelessness in Sacramento County, your fastest and most efficient way of getting help is calling 211. 211, dial 8. If there's a little bit of wait, please hang on. There are services available.

And be your own advocate. Keep calling back. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. 

Joe Pacheco: The coordinated access system, that is the main way to get your name on a list for a shelter bed, and I'd encourage everyone to do it if they need tho- if they [01:05:00] need those services. And n- not if just shelter. If, if you are... If you just got an eviction notice, you don't know how you're gonna pay that power bill that came up, call 211.

There are homeless prevention services out there that will help you just figure out that and help alleviate that problem. There are one-time resources, money resources for folks to prevent homelessness. Most people don't know that. Mm-hmm. Call 211. 

Jeff Holden: Great, and we will have that e-emphasized in the notes 'cause it's the first time I've heard the emphasis of the 211 access for homelessness, which is wonderful.

It's simple. 

Joe Pacheco: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Back to our earlier part of the conversation, if the cellphone's not charged. 

Joe Pacheco: Right. 

Jeff Holden: Right. 

Joe Pacheco: Um, I'll tell you, if you're in, if you're in the River District in, in the north part of downtown Sacramento, 1400 North A Street is the North A shelter. Our lobby is open every day of the week. [01:06:00] There is a free phone there.

Jeff Holden: Yeah. 

Joe Pacheco: There's a restroom there. We'll charge your phone if you have one. 

Jeff Holden: Excellent. Joe, the work you are doing with First Step Communities is doing exactly what we need more of. And again, the frustration is we can fix this problem. And what you're doing is exemplifying it with both data and humanity.

There are people sustain- s- sustaining housing because of your program. Right. Which is, that's what we wanna see. So to you, your team, the people that are engaged, those 155 and the volunteers and everybody else that supports the organization, thank you. 

Joe Pacheco: Well, thank you for having me. I really appreciate it.

Jeff Holden: A pleasure. And now let's go make something better. 

Joe Pacheco: All right. 

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