2021 National SOAR Outcomes

SOAR Works!

Over the last 16 years, the SOAR approach has been used to assist over 95,166 people who were experiencing or at risk of homelessness to apply for Social Security's disability programs, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Of the applications assisted using SOAR, 65 percent, representing 50,957 persons have been approved for SSI/SSDI upon initial application since SOAR began. An additional 8,196 persons, whose applications were denied initially, were approved on reconsideration or appeal. Taken together, since 2006, the SOAR approach is responsible for assisting 59,153 persons who were experiencing or at risk of homelessness to access Social Security disability benefits.

In 2021 alone, there were 3,206 approvals on initial applications. Decisions on SOAR initial applications were received in an average of 155 days with an allowance rate of 60 percent. This compares to the initial allowance rate of 30.8 percent for all persons aged 18-64 who applied for SSI or SSDI in 2019. 

We estimate that in 2021 alone, SSI/SSDI for the individuals served by SOAR brought over $564 million into the economies of participating states and localities. 

2021 SOAR Outcomes Issue Brief

2021 SOAR Outcomes Infographic

Infographic alternative viewing option: Text (PDF)