- Licensed BHRF — Phoenix, AZ
Admissions accepts calls from families, hospitals & referring professionals
Admissions accepts calls from families, hospitals & referring professionals
About Step One
Where This Started
More than twenty-three years ago, Step One opened as a halfway house for men who had run out of options, men facing both addiction and homelessness, the ones most programs quietly screen out because they are harder to help and harder to bill. The work was simple and unglamorous: a safe place to sleep, a reason to get up, and people who expected something of you.
Over the years that grew into a licensed Behavioral Health Residential Facility, with clinical staff, structured treatment, and nursing oversight. What did not change is who we are here for. The man arriving today with a court date, no ID, and three weeks clean is the same man this organization was built around from the start.
What Nonprofit Actually Means for You
When a treatment center is run for profit, every decision eventually runs through one question: what does this do to revenue. Step One does not carry that pressure in the same way. As a nonprofit, the organization measures itself by whether men recover and stay recovered, not by occupancy targets or what a bed can be billed at.
That difference shows up in practical ways. It shapes who gets admitted, how long someone can stay when they need more time, and the existence of a sponsorship program built for one reason, so that money is not the thing that decides whether a man gets help. You are not a margin here. You are the reason the doors are open.
Who Gets Admitted
Admission decisions weigh clinical need first, not what a bed can be billed at.
How Long Someone Can Stay
When a man needs more time, length of stay bends to that need instead of an occupancy target.
A Sponsorship Program That Exists on Purpose
Built for one reason: so money is not the thing that decides whether a man gets help.
How We Work
Plenty of programs list values on an About page and never mention them again. At Step One, the ones that matter are the ones a man feels within his first week. Accountability means someone notices when you skip group and asks why. Dignity means the staff treat a man recovering from addiction as a person rebuilding a life, not a case number cycling through a system. Community means the men around you have been where you are and will not let you quietly disappear.
The People Doing the Work
Recovery is not handed to a building. It is handed to people, and you have a right to know who they are before you trust them with someone’s life.
Many of the team know recovery from the inside, not just the textbook. You can read the full leadership and clinical team and their credentials on the Leadership and Clinical Team page.
Step One is led by
The Recovery Access Sponsorship Program
The most common reason a man does not get help is the one nobody likes to say out loud: he assumes he cannot afford it. Step One built the Recovery Access Sponsorship Program for exactly that man. It exists to keep residential treatment within reach for people who would otherwise be turned away by what they can pay.
It is not a discount gimmick and it is not charity that comes with a lecture. It is part of the mission, and it is how a nonprofit puts its principles where its budget is. You can learn how the program works and who qualifies on the Recovery Access Sponsorship Program page.
Sponsorship Program
A Trusted Arizona Nonprofit Supporting Recovery Since 2003Step One Behavioral & Residential is a nonprofit organization based in Phoenix, Arizona dedicated to helping individuals recover from substance use and co-occurring mental health challenges. Through structured residential care, peer recovery support, and evidence-informed programming, our team helps people stabilize, rebuild their lives, and move forward with dignity and purpose. CALL (602) 247-8505 Start Admissions
With more than 23 years of dedicated service, Step One has become an important part of Arizona’s recovery community. The organization began as Step One Halfway House to meet the growing need for structured transitional care for individuals rebuilding their lives after addiction.Today, Step One Behavioral & Residential operates as a Behavioral Health Residential Facility (BHRF) that combines therapeutic support, community integration, and long-term recovery planning. Our programs are designed to help individuals develop stability, accountability, and the life skills needed to maintain lasting recovery. 
At Step One Behavioral & Residential, our mission is to provide a clear path to recovery through structured, evidence-informed treatment and long-term support. We help individuals stabilize, rebuild their lives, and develop the skills needed for lasting independence.Through residential care, peer support, and recovery-focused programming, we create a supportive environment where people can heal, grow, and move forward with confidence. Our goal is not only sobriety, but long-term stability, personal accountability, and sustainable recovery.
Our leadership team blends lived experience, clinical expertise, and compassionate service:
President
Shelby Lee. During his tenure at Step One, has balanced professional growth with personal milestones, getting married and welcoming his son, Kholby.
Clinical Director (LPC)
James is an accomplished Mental Health Director and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a Master’s degree in clinical psychology.
Medical Director
Board-certified in Addiction Medicine and Medical Toxicology, Dr. Heise provides clinical leadership, quality assurance, and evidence-based care practices to support sustained recovery.
Registered Nurse
A dedicated nurse passionate about addiction medicine and personalized care, Lydia brings energy, compassion, and clinical strength to the team.
Licensed Practical Nurse
With nearly three decades of experience in behavioral health, Jodi’s work centers on personally supporting individuals and families through recovery.
Admissions Specialist
Miriah has over 20 years of personal recovery and 17 years in mental-health work, Miriah brings empathy and insight to every admission
As a nonprofit organization, every dollar we receive is reinvested directly into our programs, staff, and community outreach rather than shareholder profits. Our long-standing 501(c)(3) status reflects more than two decades of commitment to supporting recovery in the Arizona community.Transparency and accountability are central to our mission. Our EIN: 86-1032253 reflects our commitment to providing accessible, affordable care for individuals and families seeking long-term recovery support.
Step One Behavioral & Residential is proudly based in Phoenix, Arizona and serves individuals from across the state and beyond who are seeking structured recovery support.???? 2932 N. 14th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85014???? (602) 247-8505
✉ admissions@steponebr.org
Step One Behavioral & Residential currently provides residential behavioral health treatment and recovery support services, with additional levels of care planned as the organization continues to expand services.Our approach focuses on providing individualized care that promotes stability, personal growth, and long-term independence. Individuals and families can explore our programs to better understand treatment options, levels of care, and how to begin the admissions process. What We Treat
