Stepping Stone House

About

Established in 1989, SSH has a mission to provide a safe place for young people aged 12-25 who are at-risk or experiencing homelessness so they can begin to heal, build resilience, create connections, and become the very best they can be.  Established in 1989, SSH has a mission to provide a safe place for young people aged 12-25 who are at-risk or experiencing homelessness so they can begin to heal, build resilience, create connections, and become the very best they can be.  

SSH’s service stretches further than the basic needs of food, water, and safety, going above and beyond to empower young people in their care. This is achieved through a combination of education, employment coaching, outdoor adventure education, counselling, and a growing list of 815 life skills. 

SSH’s model of care offers the following services to young people:  

• Residential Care (Tiered accommodation service, catering to each individual) 
• ARC Therapeutic Care (Attachment, Regulation, Competency framework) 
• The Educational Support Program (Ensuring young people excel in education) 
• The Future Pathways Program (Supporting young people with employment) 
• My Skills for Life eLearning Program (815 life skills taught interactively online) 
• The Drive to Freedom Program (Helping young people get their license) 
• The Cultural Support Program (Prioritising cultural safety for each individual) 
• Adventure Education (Learning through adventure centred experiences) 

Ultimately, SSH gives residents a sense of permanency and belonging, as well as the time necessary to begin healing from the trauma experienced in their young lives. 

Program donations fund:

ILP is a housing program targeted at young adults who have transitioned to independent living and are now pursuing higher education and career pathways. Individuals in this program live in apartments primarily sourced in-kind by community housing partners. Each resident is supported with full access to SSH’s suite of developmental programs and therapeutic care resources.   This initiative is a significant point of difference for SSH youth as government funding is often cut off on their 18th birthday. Rather than being abandoned, residents are given the opportunity to find a sense of belonging and purpose and pursue pathways to sustainable independence.

The $10,000 target that SSH have set for this Be Kind Sydney Campaign is the amount it takes to holistically support one young person for an entire year. Funding will support the delivery of SSH’s Independent Living Program (ILP), which supports young people who are ready for greater independence.

The long-term impact of this program should not be underestimated. As a result of the ILP initiative, 100% of young people in the SSH service are accommodated at age 19. SSH see housing as a basic human right in Australia, and recognise that at such a formative age, the stability of having a safe space to learn and grow is of critical importance.