About Stepping Stone

50 years of saving lives.

Since 1976, the LGBTQ+ community taking care of its own — in San Diego, on our terms.

Read Our Story Meet the Team

Founded 1976

A house, then a building, then a community.

Stepping Stone began as a four-bed residence for gay men in early recovery — at a time when most treatment programs either turned LGBTQ+ people away outright or asked them to closet themselves at the door. The founders refused both options.

Today the organization runs residential, outpatient, and sober-living programs across San Diego County, serves people on Medi-Cal, and remains the only LGBTQ+-specific recovery provider of its kind in the region.

Who We Are

Built by and for our community.

Stepping Stone of San Diego is a non-profit founded in 1976, specializing in alcohol and drug recovery services. We are dedicated to treating individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions — as one of the nation's only addiction treatment nonprofits built by and for the LGBTQ+ community.

We believe in celebrating diversity and being inclusive. We believe in providing safe, healing environments for holistic wellness, and in meeting each person's recovery needs to support a balanced life. And we believe in being trustworthy, professional, and compassionate, offering evidence-based care at every step.

With a caring and safe environment and holistic treatment, every individual has the ability to live a balanced life free of addiction.

Keep Exploring

The people and the story behind the work.