Step Onward Foundation

Over the past few weeks, many of us have joined in celebrations for our favorite graduates.

We've attended ceremonies, taken photos, and shared tears of joy.

What we don't always see are the foundations that made those moments possible.

A safe place to sleep.
A stable address.
Reliable transportation.

Only 55–60% of youth experiencing homelessness graduate high school.

Compare that to 90% of students who are stably housed.

That gap isn't about ability.

It's about stability.

When housing is uncertain, everything else is too.

With the right support at the right moment, young adults can stay in school, keep moving forward, and build independent futures.

We’re excited to welcome Teresa Vazquez, our new master’s-level social worker, to the Step Onward team. 💛

As Step Onward continues to grow, this role allows us to deepen the personalized, human-centered care at the core of our mission and respond more effectively to families and young adults facing housing instability.

When a family is navigating a child’s medical crisis, housing instability can happen quickly. That’s why Step Onward provides both rapid financial assistance and ongoing case management before a short-term crisis becomes long-term homelessness.

Teresa works directly with families and young adults to assess urgent needs, connect individuals with resources, strengthen referral relationships, and provide support beyond immediate financial assistance.

“Teresa has already helped refine our intake process and deepen relationships with our community partners, allowing us to respond more effectively to urgent needs.” — Dr. Sam West, Executive Director

As demand continues to grow across Central Texas, this work helps more families remain housed, stable, and connected to care before a crisis escalates.

Learn more about our work: https://steponward.org/how-we-help/ -process