Intergrated Stabilization & Recovery Initiative

Our Brother's Keeper is strengthening the way we support individuals and families experiencing homelessness by introducing the Integrated Stabilization & Recovery Initiative (ISRI), a coordinated approach bringing specialized partners together around the barriers and needs our guests are facing.

Neighbors experiencing homelessness are often faced with a lot of stigma and judgment for the unfortunate situation they are in. Oftentimes, they are afraid to ask for help as many do not know how to navigate the system. When they do reach out for help, they are often referred from one office to another before they get the help they need. This can lead to burnout, loss of trust in the system, and loss of motivation.

Some of the individuals and families we serve face barriers involving substance use, healthcare access, transportation, employment, legal support, and limited affordable housing options. Addressing these challenges requires more than one organization working independently.

Through ISRI, we hope to strengthen coordination with organizations that already specialize in these services, making it easier for our guests to access the support they need.

The first component of ISRI is Project North, a formal partnership between Our Brother's Keeper and Ten16 Recovery Network providing OBK guests with on-site peer recovery support and substance-use treatment system navigation. This program promotes coordination, reduce barriers to care, and strengthen local service integration.

As ISRI continues to develop, OBK intends to build similar partnerships around other barriers our guests face to help them move toward self-sufficiency. We also want our guests to understand how to navigate community support systems, helping them maintain stability after they find housing.

ISRI is intended to help our guests spend less time trying to figure out where to go for help, waiting for services, and facing accessibility barriers, and more time working toward stability.