Over time, Next Steps has become an influential force, contributing to a shift in the Chicago Continuum of Care (CoC) Board’s composition to include 25% individuals with lived experience, with a person from this background serving as Board Chair every three years. The organization has been pivotal in challenging exclusions and advocating for a more inclusive approach to addressing homelessness.

In 2005, Next Steps initiated a comprehensive mission redefinition, expanding its focus to include advocating for consumers’ voices in the mental health system. Originally conceived to reform the Chicago Continuum of Care with the goal of ending homelessness, the organization has played a pivotal role in reshaping policies, emphasizing the importance of lived experience and consumer voices in creating lasting change.

Today, Next Steps remains committed to reshaping policies within homeless services and mental health systems, with a continued emphasis on inclusivity and the invaluable perspectives of individuals with lived experience. The organization’s mission continues to drive meaningful change and foster a more inclusive and responsive approach to the challenges faced by those within these systems.