Beth Southorn has been working in the Social Service field since 1991. She has experience working with the mental health population, aging, homeless, incarcerated, domestic violence and individuals in drug and alcohol recovery, including serving at Mills/Peninsula Hospital forfive years. Her experience in diversity, leadership, training, and program development has allowed her to form national models of success with vocational rehabilitation, and affordable housing programs. Beth earned her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Notre Dame de Namur, anda Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from San Francisco State University. Beth hasnot only been developing a successful model of resident empowerment for affordable housing communities throughout California, but has also been addressing the Trapped in the Gap senior population.

As Executive Director of LifeSTEPS, Beth has propelled LifeSTEPS to its current status as one of the premier social service providers in affordable housing,now serving over 26,490 homes throughout California. Beth realizes that enhancedresident services and education are the keys to breaking through the barriersof poverty. Under her guidance, LifeSTEPS has developed proprietary adult, teenand after school curriculum in addition to a model resident services program. Herleadership has led LifeSTEPS to influence policy and strengthen funding forresident services. Most recently, Beth has expanded LifeSTEPS’ servicesto address the unique needs of our senior population “Trapped in the Gap” –those who cannot afford services but do not qualify for MediCal. LifeSTEPS isnow a CCA/CCT organization.

Beth routinely makes presentations for various affordable housing and mental health organizations and relates her 20+ years of experience serving affordable housing partners, special needs populations, and other hard-to-serve groups with humor, wit and relevance to the affordable housing industry.