Out of the collaborative partnership efforts between the US Departments of Health and Human Services and Housing and Urban Development comes a program called FirstStep.

FirstStep is a tool for case managers, outreach workers and others to use when helping homeless clients access various federal benefit programs. Some of those programs are Food Stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, One-Stop Career Centers, VA Health Care and others.

The program is designed to be a time-saving, interactive, easy-to-use tool. It can make those assisting homeless clients an easier and more efficient process. Some of the tools provided by FirstStep are program fact sheets, customizable client benefit worksheets and benefit program information.

The CD is also available by calling Community Connections at the Department of Housing and Urban Development at 800-998-9999.