Steve Adami Appointed Executive Director & Destiny Pletsch Deputy Director of The Way Out
SAN FRANCISCO (June 26, 2023) - The Salvation Army is pleased to announce Steve Adami as the new Executive Director for The Way Out. Adami joins The Salvation Army from the San Francisco Adult Probation Department, where he most recently worked as Director of the Reentry Division. Adami will be joined by Destiny Pletsch, who also was employed by San Francisco Adult Probation, where she most recently worked with Adami as the Reentry Services Manager. Over the past decade, Adami and Pletsch have designed and implemented dozens of reentry programs, including a behavioral health-focused reentry center and a portfolio of supportive transitional housing programs that provide a safe and drug-free environment focused on recovery, behavioral health, and career development.
“I am excited to join The Salvation Army at a time when it’s launching an ambitious recovery and homeless initiative to help San Franciscans in need,” Adami said. “The Way Out is a Recovery System of Care that will create meaningful and lifelong change for our unhoused neighbors and those struggling with addiction. Destiny and I are looking forward to the work ahead.” Adami and Pletsch are committed to bringing together recovery advocates and creating viable solutions.
In Fall 2021, The Way Out initiative launched a pilot project expanding access to long-term, recovery-focused, transitional housing for San Franciscans exiting residential treatment and long-term offenders. Services include onsite case management, career development, life skills, and permanent housing assistance. During the first 15 months of its pilot program, 86% of participants who completed the program achieved stable housing, 77% were fully employed, and 91% remained free from drug or alcohol use. The pilot project is demonstrating people can overcome housing insecurity and addiction, gain employment, and reclaim their place in the community, key determinants of health and economic success. It will serve as the blueprint for programming as The Salvation Army looks to redevelop several properties to increase its recovery services to people in need.
The Salvation Army plans to positively impact individuals marginalized by addiction, homelessness, and incarceration as part of its recovery system of care. Adami and Pletsch will work on advancing the next steps of the initiative, which include implementing Treatment on Demand; expanding capacity at the pilot program; building a coalition to support San Francisco’s recovery efforts; and work to develop properties to scale the program.
“We are thrilled that Steve and Destiny have joined forces with us in our efforts through The Way Out. Our holistic approach treats the whole person through the whole process - their mind, body, and spirit. Using evidence-informed methods in a supportive, value-based community, we help people leave the streets to lead a productive life. We want to help solve the issue for those who want to get better and help them permanently escape dependency and crisis,” said Major Darren Norton, The Salvation Army’s Divisional Commander, for the Golden State Division, which stretches from San Francisco to Bakersfield. “Steve’s extensive background and approach to prison reentry and recovery is just the perfect fit for our program and Destiny’s work in reentry and community efforts is invaluable. They are both an answer to prayer.”
About the Way Out
The Way Out is a recovery-focused homeless initiative delivered through a Recovery System of Care, and strategically partners with the community and social service agencies to foster lifelong change for those marginalized by addiction, homelessness, and incarceration. Services range from treatment on demand, therapeutic communities, transitional housing, life skills, career development and independent living.
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About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army was established in London in 1865, and since 1883 has been serving the San Francisco Bay Area, offering practical support, spiritual comfort, and a critical safety net to people in need. The safety net is funded in part by donations from the Red Kettle Campaign which started in San Francisco in 1891. Nearly 150,000 people living in the San Francisco Bay Area receive assistance from the Army annually through a range of social services. For every dollar donated to The Salvation Army, 82 cents is used to support those services throughout San Francisco communities. For more information go to sanfrancisco.salvationarmy.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @SalvationArmySF. For more information about The Way Out, please visit www.thewayoutsf.org.