BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG -- A peer service organization in Ogdensburg that's found success in helping displaced residents offered ideas to officials in neighboring Jefferson County at a housing summit Thursday.

A housing summit organized by Assemblyman Scott Gray, R-Watertown, connected St. Lawrence and Jefferson County officials to discuss the growing homeless population in the region.

Gray said that under the direction of David Bayne, Step By Step Inc. has created a model he believes can be a stepping stone for issues facing Jefferson County.

He said getting county, city and state officials in the same room allowed for a conversation about how to best leverage resources for the most effective outcomes.

Gray said one of things that makes Step By Step so unique is that staff members are peers who have experienced many of the same problems in their life as those they are seeking to help.

He said that creates a level of trust and rapport that can be hard for authority figures and civil servants to establish.

He said the “people first” model established by Step By Step could help Jefferson County officials make headway in helping house displaced residents in their communities.

The meeting began with a tour of Step By Step's Knox Street facility which provides housing. This summer a nearly $10 million grant allowed STEP by STEP Inc. to add 42 permanent housing units to the former Lincoln School property which is expected to break ground soon.

In 2022, the organization completed a $5.2 million apartment project which brought 20 units of supportive housing for adults with mental illness who have experienced homelessness.

Support services will be provided by STEP by STEP, which is a peer-run organization that strives to empower the members of the community “by establishing person-centered relationships, providing advocacy, educational, recovery, and social services, and creating affordable and safe housing opportunities.”

STEP by STEP, Inc. opened its doors on June 1, 1997, and began as a one-room Drop-In-Center with a mission to provide people with mental health issues support as they move back to the larger community, according to Director David Bayne.

Since then the organization has grown substantially. The growth really picked up in 2018 with the acquisition of the former Lincoln School where the organization provides both housing and a warming center.

Bayne said the 42 units will help meet an unmet need in Ogdensburg and St. Lawrence County. It’s no secret that the city’s seen a large increase in displaced and homeless individuals in recent years. The additional housing units could go a long way toward safe alternatives for those looking for permanent housing.

“The need in the area is growing day by day. When we added 20 units that was great now we’ll be adding 42 more. It’s not going to solve the problem overnight  but it’s going to go a long way to help,” he said.

Bayne said the project offers direct access to essential support services for vulnerable residents in St. Lawrence County who are experiencing homelessness by providing safe, affordable housing.

 “We are grateful for OTDA’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program and the state’s steadfast commitment to expanding the supply of permanent supportive housing for vulnerable New Yorkers, and STEP by STEP is honored to be the awardee of this contract for St. Lawrence County.”

The grants were awarded through a competitive process by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s (OTDA) Homeless Housing and Assistance (HHAP) Program and are part of Hochul’s $25 billion comprehensive Housing Plan aimed at preserving and creating 100,000 affordable homes across the state, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations.