HOPE (Homeless Outreach Programs for Entitlement) San Diego Expands Access to Benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 28, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Father Joe’s Villages and CSH are leading San Diego’s efforts to implement a national best practice model focused on increasing access to SSI/SSDI for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are disability income benefits administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that generally also provide either Medicaid and/or Medicare health insurance to individuals who are eligible. Accessing these benefits is often a critical first step in recovery. For people, who are homeless with disabling health conditions or who are returning to the community from institutions (jails, prisons or hospitals), access to these programs can be extremely challenging. The application process for SSI/SSDI is complicated, detailed, and often difficult to navigate. Typically, about 10-15 percent of individuals who are homeless have these benefits.

HOPE San Diego has mapped out new, highly effective techniques so that people who are homeless and disabled can quickly access income and healthcare. In order to reach the largest number of homeless individuals with disabling health conditions, Father Joe’s and CSH will provide responsive and sophisticated technical assistance to 35 plus community and government partners, enabling them to learn and implement these specific methods.

Stay tuned for a listing of meetings and trainings