[NYAPRS Enews] SOAR Benefits for Homeless or At-Risk; Consumer-Run Organizations Learn More

[Briana Gilmore]

NYAPRS Note: Do you work for a consumer-run organization who has direct contact with mental health service consumers who are experiencing or are at-risk for homelessness? Learn more about SOAR to help them achieve success in accessing benefits and housing!
Supporting Homeless Consumers with Accessing Benefits and Housing
What You and Your Organization Can Do to Help!

The Social Security Administration (SSA)<http://www.ssa.gov/> administers two disability benefit programs: Supplemental Security Income (SSI)<http://www.ssa.gov/ssi/> and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)<http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/index.htm>.  In addition to income, these programs also provide valuable Medicaid and/or Medicare health insurance benefits to people who are eligible.

As you may know, the SSI/SSDI application process is complicated and difficult to navigate, especially for people who are:

·         experiencing homelessness

·         returning from jails/prisons

·         leaving institutions
While the programs provide supports for people with all disabilities, accessing the benefits can be especially challenging for those of us with mental health and/or substance abuse issues. Nationally, about 29% of individuals who apply for these benefits are approved on the initial application and appeals take an average of one year to complete. For people who are homeless and who have no one to assist them is about 10-15%.
In contrast, using SOAR, 65% of applications are approved in an average of 94 days!
SOAR Works!

SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) is a program designed to increase access to SSI/SSDI for eligible adults* who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness** and have a mental illness and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder or other medical impairments.  Funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration<http://www.samhsa.gov/> (SAMHSA) since 2009, the SOAR TA Center coordinates the implementation of state and local-level SOAR Programs at no cost to the communities it serves.

How does SOAR Work?


·         People receive SOAR Training to learn how to complete and submit quality SSI/SSDI application packets

·         A state or community establishes a SOAR Process <http://soarworks.prainc.com/article/soar-process> for the submission and processing of SSI/SSDI applications

·         State & Local SOAR Team Leaders support people completing applications and other stakeholders

·         The SOAR TA Center provides the Technical Assistance <http://soarworks.prainc.com/article/soar-technical-assistance> needed to keep the SOAR effort moving forward

What Can You Do?

Because we understand and value the unique gift that sharing lived experience and the hope of recovery can give to those of us who are struggling, the SOAR TA Center is currently looking to engage and support consumer operated organizations interested in helping support local consumers with accessing SSI/SSDI benefits. Because SOAR helps people who are experiencing or at risk for homelessness who may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits, we are looking to work with consumer run organizations who work directly with individuals who fit this profile. This includes organizations that operate drop-in centers, shelters and homeless/street outreach programs.

If your organization has direct contact with consumers who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness, please contact Matt Canuteson at mcanuteson at prainc.com<mailto:mcanuteson at prainc.com> for more information about how you can become involved in SOAR in your state.

In February 2015 we will be holding an informational call to discuss next steps with all interested organizations.
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