2025-11-14T13:35:01-06:00 2024-12-31 410746749 CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP 2875 MICHELLE DRIVE 300 IRVINE CA 92606 990 2024-01-01 954704879 A STEP TO FREEDOM ASTE 3236969727 164 W 80TH ST LOS ANGELES CA 90003 KENYA CROOM PRESIDENT & CEO 3236969727 2025-11-13 1 1 LISA N RYSSEL CPA P00643670 7149781300 2025-11-13 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z KENYA CROOM 164 W 80TH ST LOS ANGELES CA 90003 5281925 0 X WWW.ASTEPTOFREEDOM.ORG X 1991 CA TRANSFORM LIVES AFFECTED BY HOMELESSNESS, ADDICTION, OR MENTAL ILLNESS. 6 6 155 200 0 0 3130640 5278858 33560 0 2600 2598 0 469 3166800 5281925 0 796 0 0 2002679 2599558 0 0 136493 1284793 2361841 3287472 4962195 -120672 319730 683901 1123848 688433 595674 -4532 528174 X TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO STRUGGLE WITH SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS, LACK OF EDUCATION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND RECIDIVISM BY PROVIDING A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT TO BREAK CYCLES, HEAL AND THRIVE. 0 0 4106834 796 0 INTERIM HOUSING A STEP TO FREEDOM'S INTERIM HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDES CRUCIAL SUPPORT AND STRUCTURE FOR INDIVIDUALS SEEKING STABILITY. OPERATING SIX FACILITIES WITH 202 BEDS, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS IMMEDIATE SHELTER AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THOSE IN CRISIS. NOTABLY, IN 2024, A NEW SITE DEDICATED TO WOMEN OPENED, DELIVERING TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE THROUGH GENDER-RESPONSIVE PROGRAMS. THIS PROGRAM SERVES AS A VITAL FIRST STEP TOWARDS LONG-TERM WELL-BEING AND INDEPENDENCE.IN 2024, ASF PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE INTERIM HOUSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO 303 JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS, WITH 85% ACCESSING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, 80% MAINTAINING MEDICATION ADHERENCE, AND 20 PARTICIPANTS SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONING INTO PERMANENT HOUSING, ILLUSTRATING ASF'S COMMITMENT TO STABILIZING LIVES AND BREAKING CYCLES OF HOMELESSNESS AND INCARCERATION. 19500 0 0 PERMANENT HOUSINGA STEP TO FREEDOM'S PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SAFE, STABLE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE EXITING HOMELESSNESS AND WORKING TOWARD LONG-TERM INDEPENDENCE. RECOGNIZING THAT HOUSING STABILITY IS A CRITICAL FOUNDATION FOR OVERALL WELL-BEING, THE PROGRAM COMBINES PERMANENT HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES WITH INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ENSURE PARTICIPANTS NOT ONLY OBTAIN HOUSING BUT ARE EQUIPPED TO SUSTAIN IT.ASF SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONED 21 PARTICIPANTS INTO SAFE AND STABLE PERMANENT HOUSING IN 2024, COMBINING LONG-TERM PLACEMENT WITH WRAPAROUND CASE MANAGEMENT, HEALTH SERVICES, AND FINANCIAL COACHING TO ENSURE SUSTAINED HOUSING STABILITY AND INDEPENDENCE. 4512 0 0 OUTREACHWARM THE STREETS: ASF STRIVES TO BE ONE OF THE STRONGEST VOICES FIGHTING TO END HOMELESSNESS IN LOS ANGELES WITH A FOCUS ON SOUTH LOS ANGELES. EACH YEAR, ASF HOLDS TWO COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT EVENTS TO INCREASE AWARENESS WHILE PROVIDING VOLUNTEERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN SMALL ACTS OF COMPASSION THAT REACH THE UNHOUSED AND UNSUPPORTED, BUILDING TRUST AND CREATING PATHWAYS TO HEALTHY LIVING AND INDEPENDENCE. IN 2024, A STEP TO FREEDOM DISTRIBUTED OVER 10,000 BLANKETS AND PPE TO MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN LOS ANGELES, ATLANTA AND CHARLOTTE. 430 0 0 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENTA STEP TO FREEDOM'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM EQUIPS JUSTICE-IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND CONFIDENCE. THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO ENHANCE THEIR COMPETITIVENESS IN THE JOB MARKET, ENABLING THEM TO SECURE AND RETAIN STABLE, LIVING-WAGE EMPLOYMENT. THIS IS A CRUCIAL COMPONENT IN TACKLING HOMELESSNESS WITHIN THE SOUTH LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY.ASF EMPOWERED PARTICIPANTS THROUGH ITS FIVE-PILLAR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WITH 20% OF ENROLLED PARTICIPANTS SECURING AND MAINTAINING EMPLOYMENT, AND AT LEAST 25% OF INTERIM HOUSING CLIENTS BECOMING WORKFORCE READY WITHIN 12 MONTHS - DEMONSTRATING ASF'S EFFECTIVENESS IN BUILDING ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND CAREER RESILIENCE. 0 0 0 COMMUNITY SUPPORTS PROGRAM (HOUSING NAVIGATION AND TIME-LIMITED SUBSIDY)A STEP TO FREEDOM'S COMMUNITY SUPPORTS PROGRAM OFFERS VITAL RESOURCES, SERVICES, AND GUIDANCE, INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT, PEER SUPPORT, AND RESOURCENAVIGATION, TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES OVERCOME HOMELESSNESS, UNEMPLOYMENT, FOOD INSECURITY, AND LIMITED HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND ACHIEVE STABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES HOUSING NAVIGATION AND TIME-LIMITED SUBSIDY SERVICES.A STEP TO FREEDOM'S (ASF) HOUSING NAVIGATION AND TIME-LIMITED SUBSIDY (TLS) PROGRAMS WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEX NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIESEXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. GUIDED BY A TRAUMA-INFORMED AND CLIENT-CENTERED APPROACH, THESE SERVICES OFFER A TRANSITION FROM HOUSING INSTABILITY TO PERMANENTHOUSING, FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE, AND LONG-TERM STABILITY.ASF'S COMMUNITY SUPPORTS PROGRAM SUPPORTED 7 PARTICIPANTS IN 2024 AND GREW TO 17 ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN 2025, PROVIDING INTENSIVE HOUSING NAVIGATION ANDFINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THAT BRIDGES THE GAP FROM HOMELESSNESS TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES AND SUBSIDIZED HOUSING SUPPORT. 430 0 0 4131276 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 24 0 1 155 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 6 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 CA X KENYA CROOM 3236969727 164 W 80TH ST LOS ANGELES CA 90003 JIMAR WILSON PRESIDENT 2.00 X X 0 0 0 KENDEL CROOM TREASURER 2.00 X X 0 0 0 SEBASTIAN LOZANO SECRETARY 2.00 X X 0 0 0 KARIS JONES DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 LAKEESHA ALFORD DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 BRANDAN ALDRIDGE DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 KENYA CROOM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 118558 0 5954 118558 0 5954 1 0 0 0 ASF SOLUTIONS LLC 1230 ROSECRANS AVE MANHATTAN BEACH CA 90266 NUTRITION SERVICES 214725 SIMPLE YET ELEGANT CONSULTING LLC 25646 BAY AVE MORENO VALLEY CA 92553 BUSINESS CONSULTING 130722 2 4318710 960148 1005 5278858 2598 2598 MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE 459900 469 469 469 5281925 0 0 3067 796 796 124512 18677 82178 23657 1991598 1839761 151494 343 8844 7797 1047 266974 229599 37375 207630 180823 24999 1808 16172 5000 11172 141431 48916 91927 588 403173 154557 164697 83919 38352 12023 10690 15639 29463 24763 3696 1004 128622 101406 22230 4986 839689 839689 8670 3124 5546 11228 2898 8330 14642 398 14244 4580 4580 32032 12437 17779 1816 FOOD 500067 499960 107 JOB SUPPLIES 93240 93240 PAYROLL FEES 42171 13436 28568 167 SITE IMPROVEMENT 16664 16664 41645 25312 13767 2566 4962195 4131276 694426 136493 164052 732746 390358 188719 120782 137279 971 81158 17025 8709 64133 683901 1123848 48381 177077 262500 120000 377552 298597 688433 595674 X -4532 528174 -4532 528174 683901 1123848 319730 212976 0 X 0 0 0 X 1863457 230786 2399305 3130640 5278858 12903046 1863457 230786 2399305 3130640 5278858 12903046 99173 12803873 2600 2598 5198 469 469 12908713 0.99190 0.98290 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 81158 17025 64133 64133 X X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 3 PROCESS - THE BOARD OR DESIGNATED COMPENSATION COMMITTEE SHALL REVIEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION ANNUALLY. - THE REVIEW WILL INCLUDE A COMPARABILITY ANALYSIS USING SALARY SURVEYS, FORM 990 DATA, OR OTHER THIRD-PARTY COMPENSATION STUDIES. - THE COMMITTEE SHALL DOCUMENT THE BASIS FOR ITS RECOMMENDATION, INCLUDING DATA SOURCES AND RATIONALE. - THE FULL BOARD SHALL REVIEW AND APPROVE THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE, DOCUMENTING THE DECISION IN MEETING MINUTES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 1A THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IS COMPRISED OF THE FOLLOWING BOARD MEMBERS: BOARD CHAIR, JIMAR WILSON; BOARD SECRETARY, SEBASTIAN LOZANO; AND BOARD TREASURER, KENDEL CROOM. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MAY BE ACTIVATED AND AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT FOR THE ORGANIZATION, ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE FULL BOARD BETWEEN MEETINGS, AND MAKING CRITICAL DECISIONS ON ISSUES REGARDING CONTRACTS, BUDGETS, LEGAL MATTERS, AND OTHER CRITICAL TIME SENSITIVE MATTERS AS NEEDED. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ENSURES THE FULL BOARD IS INFORMED AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING GOOD GOVERNANCE PRACTICES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 KENYA CROOM AND KENDEL CROOM ARE SIBLINGS FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B BOARD REVIEW - THE BOARD WILL REVIEW THE FORM 990 DURING A REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING OR SPECIAL SESSION. - BOARD MEMBERS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS, REQUEST CLARIFICATIONS, AND SUGGEST EDITS AS NEEDED. - THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OR TREASURER WILL FACILITATE THE DISCUSSION AND ENSURE THAT ALL MATERIAL CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED. APPROVAL - AFTER DISCUSSION, THE BOARD WILL FORMALLY ACKNOWLEDGE REVIEW OF THE FORM 990 IN THE MEETING MINUTES. - FINAL APPROVAL FOR FILING MAY BE DELEGATED TO THE BOARD CHAIR OR TREASURER ONCE ANY REQUESTED REVISIONS ARE INCORPORATED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C POLICY STATEMENT: IT IS THE POLICY OF A STEP TO FREEDOM THAT: 1. DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND KEY EMPLOYEES MUST AVOID CONFLICTS OF INTEREST BETWEEN THEIR PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL, OR BUSINESS INTERESTS AND THE INTERESTS OF THE ORGANIZATION. 2. ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL CONFLICT MUST BE DISCLOSED PROMPTLY. 3. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES OUTLINED BELOW TO DETERMINE WHETHER A CONFLICT EXISTS AND WHAT ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN. PERIODIC REVIEW: THIS POLICY SHALL BE REVIEWED BY THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE (OR EQUIVALENT) EVERY THREE YEARS AND UPDATED TO REFLECT BEST PRACTICES. ENFORCEMENT & REGULAR PRACTICE: - DISTRIBUTE THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE FORM TO ALL DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND KEY EMPLOYEES DURING THE FIRST BOARD MEETING OF THE FISCAL YEAR. - COLLECT, REVIEW, AND DOCUMENT RESPONSES; SUMMARIZE POTENTIAL CONFLICTS FOR THE BOARD. - INCLUDE 'CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURES' AS A STANDING AGENDA ITEM AT EVERY BOARD MEETING. - REQUIRE DISCLOSURE AND RECUSAL WHEN CONFLICTS ARISE ON SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS. - ASSIGN OVERSIGHT TO THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE OR BOARD SECRETARY TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE AND TRACK DISCLOSURES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION POLICY FREQUENCY: REVIEWED ANNUALLY, AS PART OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EVALUATION AND COMPENSATION-SETTING PROCESS. PROCESS: 1. COMPENSATION/EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CONDUCTS A COMPARABILITY STUDY (SALARY SURVEYS, PEER DATA). 2. COMMITTEE REVIEWS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PERFORMANCE AND RECOMMENDS ADJUSTMENTS CONSISTENT WITH IRS REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION OF REASONABLENESS STANDARDS. 3. BOARD VOTES TO APPROVE COMPENSATION PACKAGE, DOCUMENTING THE BASIS FOR DECISION IN MINUTES. 4. POLICY LANGUAGE IS UPDATED IF NEW GOVERNANCE OR COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS APPLY. DOCUMENTATION AND COMMUNICATION ALL REVIEWS AND APPROVALS ARE RECORDED IN BOARD MEETING MINUTES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 A STEP TO FREEDOM 990 TAX RETURN IS REVIEWED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT BEFORE BEING FILED. THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS ARE MAINTAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MADE AVAILABLE AS NEEDED TO CONDUCT THE ORGANIZATION'S BUSINESS.