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SAMHSA SOAR

Texas

Select a New State

Please select your state to view information and contacts for SOAR in your state. While there is SOAR activity in every state, there are not SOAR services available in every community.

State Information

Texas SOAR State Team

State Team Lead(s):

  • Lyla Ordonez
    Email: Lyla.ordonez@careerandrecovery.org
    Phone: 713-203-3612

TA Center Liaison:

  • Sametra Polkah-Toe
    Email: spolkahtoe@prainc.com
    Phone: (518) 439-7415 x5107

SOARing in Texas

SOAR (SSI/SSDI, Outreach, Access, and Recovery) is a national project designed to increase access to SSI/SSDI benefits for eligible children, youth, and adults who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and have a serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorder. 

Please contact the State Team Lead for more information. 

Austin SOAR Project RFA

The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) is pleased to announce funding to agencies for SOAR Representatives Benefit Specialists providing services to unhoused individuals off the Permanent Supportive Housing By-Name List.

You can find the Request for Application (RFA) here: SOAR PSH By-Name List RFA

Applications are due February 17, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. ET

Please submit questions for this application no later than January 24, 2025, to rfp@austinecho.org.

A question-and-answer session will be held on January 27, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. ET. You can register here: Webinar Registration - Zoom.

Expectations of Participation in SOAR

Agency and community expectations will vary depending on local resources. However, any SOAR community is expected to implement a SOAR Lead as the minimum standard and community supports such as a steering committee as the highest standard.

Outcomes Tracking

Texas utilizes the SOAR Online Application Tracking (OAT) system to track the outcomes of SOAR-assisted SSI/SSDI applications. OAT can be accessed at https://soartrack.samhsa.gov/. 

Local Leads:

  • Sheila Beach-Cramblet
    Fort Worth, TX
    Email: sheila.beach-cramblet@mhmrtc.org
    Phone: 682-263-6809

  • Sheila Clary
    Dallas, TX
    Email: sclary@ntbha.org
    Phone: 469-607-7417

  • La Shandraia Dwyer
    Austin, TX
    Email: lashandraiadwyer@austinecho.org
    Phone: 972-584-7095

  • Ashley Griffin
    Amarillo, TX
    Email: agriffin@pcsvcs.org
    Phone: 806-690-4157

  • Marcie Ramsey
    San Antonio, TX
    Email: marcieramsey@closetohomesa.org
    Phone: 210-630-5930

  • Keanu Roath
    Laredo, TX
    Email: kroath@pillarstrong.org
    Phone: 956-723-7457

  • Hope Rodgers
    Balance of State CoC, TX
    Email: hope@thn.org
    Phone: 512-861-2119

  • Alejandro Vasquez
    EL PASO, TX
    Email: avasquez.epch@elp.twcbc.com
    Phone: 915-843-2170

  • Robert Ward
    Burleson, TX
    Email: robert.ward@hhs.texas.gov
    Phone:

SOAR for Children Leads:

  • Lyla Ordonez
    Houston, TX
    Email: Lyla.ordonez@careerandrecovery.org
    Phone: 713-203-3612

  • Dustin Wherrell
    Austin, TX
    Email: dusty@thn.org
    Phone: 785-438-9323

State Events

Events List

No Events currently exist for this state.

State Jobs

No Job postings currently exist for this state.

State Documents

Filename Description

Success Stories