First Step House

First Step House
A SLC-based behavioral health treatment and housing provider

The mission of First Step House is to help people build lives of meaning, purpose, and recovery. Founded in 1958, First Step House has evolved into a co-occurring capable, behavioral health treatment and housing provider. First Step House is accredited by the Joint Commission, the leading healthcare accreditation entity in the U.S., for our continuous compliance with performance standards and comm

itment to providing safe and quality patient care. We have been a consistent leader in the Salt Lake metro area delivering evidence-based interventions and achieving positive outcomes for individuals, Veterans, and families who struggle with high severity substance use disorders, histories of homelessness, mental health conditions, justice system involvement, and primary health concerns. We operate two residential treatment facilities, two outpatient treatment centers, and six transitional housing facilities in Salt Lake County, Utah. We are currently in the process of building two permanent supportive housing facilities for individuals with histories of homelessness, serious mental illness, and substance use disorders. The scope of services we offer include substance use disorder and mental health assessment, residential and outpatient treatment, recovery residence services, housing, case management, employment support, primary health care, peer support services, and long-term recovery management. Through our programs, we serve over 1,000 individuals per year- many of who arrive at our doorstep with very little resources, lack of family support, and numerous barriers to overcome.

"This program has helped to change my life and I'm so thankful." đź’™These words, from an Employment Preparation and Placem...
08/22/2025

"This program has helped to change my life and I'm so thankful." đź’™

These words, from an Employment Preparation and Placement program graduate, say it all: Stable employment isn't just about a paycheck, it's about building a foundation for lasting recovery.

Our EPP program provides job training, placement services, and ongoing employment support for people working toward independence through stable work.

Stories like this remind us why we do what we do.

Learn more about our programs at firststephouse.org

🎒📚 A HUGE thank you to the SLC Newcomers Club for their amazing back-to-school drive!Club members thoughtfully organized...
08/21/2025

🎒📚 A HUGE thank you to the SLC Newcomers Club for their amazing back-to-school drive!

Club members thoughtfully organized 40 backpacks filled with school supplies for low-income families at Richmond Flats. These backpacks will help kids start the school year with everything they need to succeed.

📸 Lucy, SLC Newcomers Club President, stands beside a few of the 40 backpacks generously prepared by club members.

Thank you, SLC Newcomers Club, for helping Richmond Flats families start the school year with confidence! 🙌

🩵 Today is World Humanitarian Day, a day to celebrate people helping people.At First Step House, we this every day. It's...
08/19/2025

🩵 Today is World Humanitarian Day, a day to celebrate people helping people.

At First Step House, we this every day. It's our staff walking alongside someone on their recovery journey, volunteers lending a hand, and community members offering support.

We're all part of something bigger than ourselves.

Today we honor all humanitarian workers, and we're reminded that healing happens when we show up for one another.

We're honored to recognize the R. Harold Burton Foundation as a key supporter of First Step House's Medical Integration ...
08/15/2025

We're honored to recognize the R. Harold Burton Foundation as a key supporter of First Step House's Medical Integration Program.

Having access to basic medical care is essential for our clients' success in treatment. Our Medical Integration Program gives clients the tools and support they need to take charge of their health. We connect clients with trusted community healthcare providers, provide immunization education, ensure vaccine access, and so much more.

Thank you, R. Harold Burton Foundation, for helping our clients build the stability, confidence, and well-being they deserve!

Each year, we hold an all-staff event where we create space for team members to share stories of compassion. Usually, th...
08/13/2025

Each year, we hold an all-staff event where we create space for team members to share stories of compassion. Usually, these stories highlight how amazing, resilient, and dedicated our staff are in normal, everyday moments.

This year, Housing Specialist Case Manger Alec Marshall wrote about the compassion our clients demonstrate, and it hit home with everyone in the room. Here's what he wrote:

Hi Holly,

My apologies for the delay on this, fortunately it is never too late for a FSH compassion story! When I think of the word compassion in the context of case management, one of the first things that comes to mind are some of the tenants at Richmond Flats and more recently Fireclay.

I think of the retired man who, despite caring for his disabled wife who is struggling with Alzheimer’s in addition to his two adopted grandchildren, always has time to help neighbors get a ride to their appointments in his car. He is always willing to help and even referred several folks he knew from the shelter he stayed at who are now stably housed. Now they all eat breakfast together, help watch each other’s children and look out for community members who are struggling.

I also think of a tenant who is a disabled trans veteran and overcame her shyness to approach a neighbor to propose doing art & crafts classes. These two tenants, despite coming from wildly different backgrounds and demographics, were able to unite along the basis of providing what they viewed as an unmet need for their fellow residents.

Another compassion story that comes to mind is showing up at Fireclay apartments only to immediately be approached by no less than 4 tenants, all of whom were concerned for the wellbeing of a tenant. These seniors all had been stopping in and providing companionship, comfort, even cleaning assistance to a tenant who is home ridden due to stage 4 cancer.

We can learn from and share these values as we continue to assist our community in lives of meaning, purpose and recovery.

Alec Marshall
Housing Specialist Case Manger

"They're lazy and don't want to work"🏠 MYTH BUSTER: The reality? Many people experiencing homelessness are actually work...
08/11/2025

"They're lazy and don't want to work"

🏠 MYTH BUSTER: The reality? Many people experiencing homelessness are actually working or receiving income benefits like veteran compensation for service-connected disabilities. Their jobs or benefits simply do not stretch far enough to cover today's housing costs. Others face real barriers: no reliable transportation, lacking a permanent address for job applications, or health challenges that make consistent work difficult.

Homelessness isn't about a person's character, it's about systemic barriers that create a revolving door back to homelessness, emergency services, and incarceration. Any of us could find ourselves in this situation when life hits hard: sudden job loss, a medical crisis, domestic violence, or mental health struggles. A single setback can have outsized impact in a place where affordable housing is increasingly out of reach.

Together, we can focus on solutions: affordable housing, supportive employment, healthcare access, and wraparound services that address root causes.

Everyone deserves dignity, compassion, and a safe place to call home.

🎨✨ Today's shoutout goes to our awesome friends at Morgan Stanley!Recently, this team transformed a room at Valor House ...
08/08/2025

🎨✨ Today's shoutout goes to our awesome friends at Morgan Stanley!

Recently, this team transformed a room at Valor House with fresh paint and good vibes, prepping the space for a veteran who's coming to seek healing and growth.

This marks their FOURTH volunteer event with us, and we are grateful for their commitment to our mission and the veterans we serve.

Morgan Stanley is also a proud funder of the First Step House medical program, affording compassionate, holistic healthcare to every client in residential treatment.

Thank you, Morgan Stanley team, for improving spaces where healing happens!

Meet Sean Oviatt from our Self-Reflections Book Club!He’s holding a donated copy of The Power of Now, our current book c...
08/06/2025

Meet Sean Oviatt from our Self-Reflections Book Club!

He’s holding a donated copy of The Power of Now, our current book club read, generously gifted by a community member. 📚 ❤️

This group is more than just a book club. It’s a therapeutic space where residents come together to connect, reflect, and grow.

Facilitator Missee Sue explains, "The shared experience of reading allows for safe exploration of thoughts and feelings, modeling of healthy behaviors, and support in building community."

We’re currently seeking donations for our next book cycle! Our goal is to read 4 books a year, cycling through a new one every 2–3 months. Every donation helps foster growth, healing, and a sense of community.

đź“– Want to help us turn the page to the next chapter? DM us or contact Jeanine at jkunshek@firststephouse.org to donate or learn more.

We are proud to recognize the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation as a supporter of First Step House's Long-Ter...
08/01/2025

We are proud to recognize the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation as a supporter of First Step House's Long-Term Recovery Management Program.

With their support, First Step House empowers individuals after treatment through our Long-Term Recovery Management (LTRM) program, because recovery doesn’t end when treatment does.

Through this evidence-based program, alumni stay connected and supported as they build lives in long-term recovery. Participants join peer-led support groups, take part in meaningful service projects, and engage in fun, sober social activities. LTRM is designed to strengthen community, purpose, and resilience.

Thank you, George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, for your support of our clients and mission!

"First Step saved my life, and I love that I can still participate in stuff there even though it's been a long time sinc...
07/30/2025

"First Step saved my life, and I love that I can still participate in stuff there even though it's been a long time since I graduated."

Recently, we interviewed a graduate who completed residential treatment two years ago and still participates in our Long-Term Recovery Management (LTRM) program. Now working as a peer support specialist, he shared what keeps him connected to First Step House.

His words remind us that recovery is a journey, not a destination. Through LTRM, our alumni stay connected with their "First Step brothers," enjoy fun activities, and maintain the support system that's vital to lasting recovery.

"It's just a great way to stay connected after treatment... It's been a vital part of my recovery and could be something helpful for other people, too!"

Recovery doesn't end when treatment does. Community, connection, and ongoing support make all the difference.

Monday Motivation đź’™ You have the power to protect your peace.Recovery teaches us that we don't have to accept every invi...
07/28/2025

Monday Motivation đź’™

You have the power to protect your peace.

Recovery teaches us that we don't have to accept every invitation to chaos. We can choose which conversations to engage in, which environments to enter, and which energy we allow into our space.

Your peace isn't selfish—it's essential. It's the foundation from which you build everything else: your relationships, your goals, your healing, your future.

This week, remember: You get to decide what deserves your energy. Choose wisely.

Happy National Love is Kind Day đź’™Love is kind, and sometimes the kindest love is the love we give ourselves.Recovery tea...
07/27/2025

Happy National Love is Kind Day đź’™

Love is kind, and sometimes the kindest love is the love we give ourselves.

Recovery teaches us that we can't heal in the same environment that hurt us, and that includes the harsh inner voice that tells us we're not worthy of love, forgiveness, or second chances.

True kindness means extending grace to ourselves when we stumble. It means speaking to ourselves the way we would speak to a dear friend. It means believing we deserve healing, hope, and happiness.

The love we show ourselves sets the standard for how others treat us. When we practice self-compassion, we create space for authentic connection and genuine healing.

Be kind to yourself today. You're doing better than you think.

Address

440 South 500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84102

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+18013598862

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