NBC’S SEEDS Program

Step by Step

Step 1 – Belonging to a Community

The process of belonging to the NBC community starts with the first intake interview. During the intake interview, clients are asked to provide NBC with basic personal information in addition to their personal needs and priorities. To encourage regular attendance and connection to the NBC community, Citizens receive breakfast and lunch/dinner five days a week. “Citizens” are given a personal voice mailbox to receive phone messages and allowed to use the NBC’s address as their “home” mailing address in North Beach.

The NBC facility is open to all Citizens during drop-in hours and provides a safe environment for the development of sober social skills. The responsibilities of belonging to a community are addressed quarterly by Citizens in group meetings where they discuss their relationship with the North Beach community.

Step 2 – Assignment of a “Key Worker”

Over time Citizens begin to take pride in North Beach Citizens and their Citizenship”. This development is the beginning of Step 2 of SEEDS. The Citizens are given the opportunity to participate in the daily functions of the office, assist with facility upkeep, volunteer within the community, and receive support within the NBC facility. Citizens begin to work with a Key Worker who assists them in utilizing the appropriate city, state and federal resources to move out of their current situation. Presently, the Executive Director and Case Manager serve as the Key Workers at North Beach Citizens.

Step 3 –Employment Readiness and Placement into Housing

As Citizens take on more personal responsibility, the next steps, if the client is physically and mentally able, are job training, resume development, full/part time employment, adult education classes, and housing and, if the client is not physically and/or mentally able or a senior, securing of federal disability benefits or social security benefits, support services, and housing. In Step 3 of SEEDS, Key Workers partner with the Citizen to determine which route is appropriate and how to proceed.

Step 4 –Transition to Employment/Community Service

Step 4 of the SEEDS program helps guide the Citizens through the transition to a stable self-sufficient life. Our Citizens participate in part-time work initiatives and/or community outreach work with organizations in North Beach and San Francisco. Citizens also have the opportunity to become involved in NBC-sponsored work projects such as the Street Beautification Project which is funded by local merchants, Clean City Coalition, and community groups. Local businesses employ the group to do small projects such as envelope stuffing for mailers, day labor projects, and janitorial services as needed. NBC offers a City College Scholarship for qualified Citizens interested in developing marketable skills through education.