SOAR Programs and Social Security
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: January 18, 2024
National Network for Youth (NN4Y) is dedicated to transforming systems so that no young person in America experiences homelessness.
In the United States, roughly 4.2 million young people— one in 10 young adults ages 18 to 25 and one in 30 youth ages 13 to 17— experience homelessness each year. Of those, about 700,000 are unaccompanied minors experiencing homelessness without any family, parent, or guardian. Nationwide surveys indicate that homelessness affects youth living in rural, suburban, and urban communities at similar rates.
Homelessness is often hidden among young adults, and it is difficult to accurately assess the extent of the problem. There are different definitions of homelessness, and many obstacles to contacting unhoused people, particularly unhoused youth. Further, many unhoused young people do not go to shelters, and instead transition between temporary sleeping arrangements with friends or acquaintances.
People experiencing homelessness face challenges that include:
- Lack of necessities like food, clothing, transportation, and medical care.
- Discontinuation of education due to mobility.
- Trauma caused by poverty and instability.
Many young adults experiencing homelessness also have disabilities that create additional challenges for their transition to adulthood. Children experiencing homelessness are up to three times more likely to show emotional and behavioral problems than other children. They’re also four times more likely to experience delayed development and twice as likely to have learning disabilities.
Youth homelessness is a complex issue that intersects with multiple public and private entities. The SOAR (SSI/SSDI, Outreach, Access, and Recovery) program funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) can help. SOAR increases access to Social Security disability benefits for eligible adults and children who:
- Are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.
- Have a severe mental illness, medical impairment, or a co-occurring substance use disorder.
The SOAR program provides a cross-agency approach to solving youth and young adult homelessness. SOAR provides unhoused young adults with faster access to the supportive services needed to maintain housing and stability. To learn more about SOAR, visit our website. For more information about Social Security disability benefits, check out their publication, Disability Benefits. You can also visit Social Security’s webpage, Information for People Helping Others, for ways in which you can assist people experiencing homelessness in your community.
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Our posting of this blog does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any non-Social Security organization, author, or webpages.
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Tags: Disability, General Information, People Facing Barriers, social security disability benefits
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Bob
I have worked in homeless youth to young adult services many years. This is very good news for supporting the tough transition to adulthood for you with serious challenges and no family support. I see a lot of comments that touch on whataboutism subjects of concern that are not relevant to this article’s content. It may be helpful to know these young people are often from broken or dysfunctional homes, have key developmental disabilities, are abuse and neglect victims, crime victims, human trafficking victims, and juvenile justice system experienced. Brain science tells us the judgement functions of the brain do not mature until the early 20s and self-sufficiency until the late twenties, and that is if they have not been exposed in the womb or childhood to natural deformities and/or substances that interfere with positive youth development. In short, I hope this is helpful in some way to know this is a positive thing the government policies are doing with our taxes. The other issues folks are commenting on will be helpful in the threads that discuss those issues, and rightly so.
Misty
It’s very infuriating that we have so many kids young adults and people in general that are homeless in this country, meanwhile we send billions and billions of dollars to other countries. America first is a joke.
Mark
So sad that there are many comments showing cruelty toward fellow human beings based on lies, ignorant and misinformation.
I imagine many would claim to be following Jesus like an evangelist that I have been hearing about
Louanne
Mark,
I’m in complete agreement with you on this. Take a little time to read the article in its entirety, they’d realize their complaints lie with another government agency, but they do not. They read a few lines that tick them off and then they’re off and running. I am always in complete awe at how horribly humans can be towards each other, cruel, unforgiving, and the hatred, yet, there they sit every Sunday in church claiming to be Christians. I have some news for them….God sees all and he sees right through them. We are all brothers and sisters in his eyes, and we should take care of each other, not tear one another down.
Dunstan
God ? Come on down to Reality.
Facts not Faith.
You think Fairytales and Fables are going to help ?
Do something physical to create change and keep doing it instead of praying to something that doesn’t even exist and hoping he/she/it will intervene.
Look at what’s happening in the world.
Why isn’t your All knowing God preventing it all and saving people from sickness, Disease, WAR, etc ?
Closing your Eyes to things doesn’t make them go away.
Trusting others will take care of things while you live on your knees and Nose in the Bible, won’t make matters better.
Help help help others daily to feel better and if you aren’t healthy and/or without money, you can do Online volunteer work or support hotlines.
Louanne
Dunstan,
Where did I say that I am a Christian, that I believe in God, that I pray on bended knee to God to save the world or that I believe in fairy tales?? I did not say any of that. What I said was “I am always in complete awe at how horribly humans can be towards each other, cruel, unforgiving, and the hatred, yet, there they sit every Sunday in church claiming to be Christians.”
I do want to thank you for proving my point, which was if people would only “take a little time to read the article in its entirety, they’d realize their complaints lie with another government agency, but they do not. They read a few lines that tick them off and then they’re off and running.”
Reading your response to my comment tells me that you either didn’t understand what I was talking about to Mark because you didn’t read Mark’s post; or you were skimming through these posts, picked up on what you perceived to be some sort of religious bible-thumping, for which you are entirely wrong.
You need to read the article completely, read the posts all the way through before you start jumping down another person’s throat, which only makes you look like an ass. I have helped and supported many people and charities throughout my adult life, and still do. I may not be able to help financially like I did in the past because I am trying to survive on a limited income; however, rest assured I donate heavily to many charities and small groups anything that I do not need including my antiques, clothing, home goods, food, etc. and will continue to do so for as long as I can. I’ve always been a happy go lucky person because I help my fellow man any time that I am able. Can you say the same? If so, then good on you!
Kizzy T.
I totally agree with both of you.
How can we judge one another and not look within ourselves? No one wakes up and decides to be homeless and with out. It’s always a story behind every situation.
Louanne
Kizzy,
You are so right that folks just don’t wake up one day and choose to be homeless. When the school teacher asked us in the 3rd grade, what do you want to be when you grow up? None of my classmates said they wanted to be an alcoholic, a drug addict, homeless or a victim of domestic violence. Did any of your classmates raise their hand stating they wanted to be homeless and an alcoholic, no!
It isn’t my place to judge how another man or woman should live. I don’t know their story nor have I walked in their shoes. Who am I to judge what is right or wrong for them when I have so many faults of my own? Help them if you can and when you can is my motto. A little kindness can go a long way in this world if there were more folks like you!
dave
why do some get large SSI checks? I have worked the same job for 53 years and still working there partime at age 70. Some receiving benefits only woked less than 10 years and get 100% medical plus larger checks than what I am receiving?
Misty
So I’m guessing you still make $1.25? No more than $5 an hr. I call BS!
Connie W.
Your exactly right😤. First know that only about 30% on SS are getting the amt their entitled to. Once you except their “offer” your screwed- I like you am one of those! Made the mistake of trusting them to do right!! They don’t and won’t! The ones that do get their correct amt are ones that had an independent SS special handle theirs- ot just for disability! I tell everyone it’s imperative they get someone to help when applying! It’s impossible to figure out their mumbo jumbo- their guideline and protocol contradict. Their are many loop holes and other programs we are untitled to that we don’t know about therefore they don’t tell you! They also charge you if they make an error- I’ve been paying back 7,000 $ 150. Per month for a supposed over pmt I received! Couldn’t even tell me how I was over pd. Just that it was back sometimes between 2009- 2014!! Can’t fight it! It’s BS.
Sue
Hi, Dave. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. To be eligible for a Social Security retirement benefit, you need to have 40 Social Security credits, or 10 years of work paying Social Security taxes. We based your retirement benefit on your highest 35 years of earnings and the age you started receiving your benefits. For more information about how we calculate benefits, please review our Retirement Planner and our How You Become Eligible for Benefits fact sheet. Also, to learn how your part-time earnings may increase your benefit amount, check out our How Work Affects Your Benefits publication We hope this helps.
MajJohn
SSI is not based on a work record, just the opposite, the recipient has little to no work record.
Ken
Use dollars other than Social Security to pay for this, SS is not a open source of money for anything that government wants.
LK
100% right.
D J.
I am gonna agree with as well. Maybe time to break SSI away from SS.
MajJohn
They are seperate. SSI is paid out of the general tax revenue and SS is paid out of contributions to a trust fund. SS just administers the programs/
Lisa
That is spot on.
R A.
Ken, exactly! American workers PAID INTO Social Security while working their entire careers through taxes. Illegals have paid NOTHING…and deserve NOTHING.
Lisa
Yep. Couldn’t agree more.
Kenya
This perfect programs for young adults. Perfect. Blessings.
Dd d.
Not if they are not US citizens.
Leonard. P.
Many of those are old enough to get a job. Leave my social security alone and close the border, with all these illegal immigrants and unaccompanied minors coming across our borders illegally is an absolute drain on our society and social system. It’s no wonder social security is going broke
Georgia
An ILLEGAL person cannot get Social Security benefits. You must show documentation that you are legal, if from another country. Too much misinformation being spread by the fringe. This article is about homeless children — you know, U.S. citizens.
CHARROMA
Thats the part of the problem people from other countries come here to the US once again thats not US citizens and and they are in tittle to more benifits , access income ,MAKE OT MAKE SENSE
R A.
Many states are giving illegals Drivers Licenses to use as ID, so they can get U.S. benefits, voting privileges, etc. This is not right!!! They are NOT entitled to anything in this country, but yet our corrupt gov’t gives them more than what U.S. citizens get….free cell phones, $5k gift cards, free everything, while U.S. taxpayers foot the bill.
MajJohn
No, the article is about young people who might experience homelessness. And SOAR has nothing to do with this unless the individual is disabled. The article is misleading.
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Matt
Yet totally ignoring those that are a bit more older that get SSI and have either experienced (past tense) homelessness, or currently are. I was myself.
Dd d.
Your administration let millions of illegal aliens into our Country. “Of those, about 700,000 are unaccompanied minors experiencing homelessness without any family, parent, or guardian.”
Our tax dollars are not meant to support these people who entered our Country illegally and are NOT citizens and should not get one penny! SHAME ON YOUR KANGAROO DISGRACEFUL UNAMERICAN ADMINISTRATION BIDEN.
Georgia
SO IGNORANT! This article has nothing to do with illegal people in our country. Social Security does not give away money to people here illegally. This has to do with millions of people experiencing homelessness, including so many young people. SAD
R A.
Georgia, you are the one that is ignorant. A great many of these illegals coming into the U.S. are homeless. The article may not directly speak about the illegals, but they are included in the homeless totals. Our entire gov’t is very corrupt, and giving illegals benefits that they are not entitled to…free cellphones, free healthcare, $5,000 gift cards, free education, and yes even Social Security benefits (using stolen and fake ID’s)…and the list goes on. Some states are letting illegals get Drivers Licenses so they can get those benefits AND even to vote in our elections. Get out from under your rock.
LK
Bingo!
Susan S.
I suggest you check on the number of illegals who got into the country during the last administration. From your post, I gather that was YOUR administration.
If you were ok with separating children from their parents without even keeping records of where they were, SHAME on you!
MajJohn
So no parent who commits a crime should go to jail and be separated from their children by your logic.
R A.
Dd dee, You are so right. Our gov’t should not be giving illegals anything, but yet it does. Even free plane or bus tickets to anywhere in the country.
Regina
Nailed it!
Patrick S.
If you did not pay into SSI (immigrants),then you have no right to the benefits.
Leonard
Absolutely right
MajJohn
SSI is welfare, no one pays into it. It is funded out of the taxes paid into the general budget.