Library & Tools

This webinar, held on April 17, 2024, explored the intersection of SOAR and Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) programs.

On this webinar, held on January 25, 2022, panelists shared best practice examples on how they have incorporated their lived expertise into their SOAR work.

Individuals living in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) are eligible for SOAR services. Housing status (i.e. living arrangement) and receipt of vouchers or other in-kind support can impact eligibility and benefit amounts for SSI and SSDI. Understanding the impact of living arrangements, vouchers, income from work, and rent obligations can help individuals maintain their benefits and housing.

Including SOAR in local CoC planning and projects is a viable strategy for connecting individuals to long-term stable income and improving CoC system performance. CoCs nationwide have included SOAR in their local homeless response systems.

SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) case workers assist eligible individuals who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and have a serious mental illness, medical impairment, and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder to apply for Social Security Disability benefits. Due to the unique nature of the position, the following are helpful suggestions and reminders when supervising SOAR case workers.

Staff turnover while there are pending disability applications can confuse and concern the applicant, the Social Security Administration (SSA), and Disability Determination Services (DDS). This checklist helps agencies effectively transfer applications to a new SOAR case worker, resulting in a frustration-free experience for all.

National Recovery Month is observed every September to educate the public about mental health and substance use disorders and to celebrate the gains accomplished by individuals in recovery. In celebration, the SAMHSA SOAR TA Center extends thanks and appreciation to the 250+ SOAR-trained case workers who identify as “peers.”

This guide provides suggestions for navigating conversations about integrating peer support into SOAR programs.

This guide helps new SOAR Case Workers get acquainted with their role.

SOAR Leaders can use this infographic to illustrate how Peer Support Workers can assist at different intercepts in the SOAR process.

This infographic provides the steps needed to obtain funding for your SOAR program.