LODESTAR DAY RESOURCE CENTER - TOHONO OODHAM 2017.PDF

Last updated: 05/08/2017
General information
Organization Lodestar Day Resource Center
Contact First name Linda
Contact Last name Mushkatel
Contact e-mail lmushkatel@hsc-az.org
Contact phone number 480.688.3537
Address
Street 1125 West Jackson
City Phoenix
State AZ
ZIP Code 85007
From what tribe is the Tohono O’odham Nation
organization requesting the
grant?
Total grant amount request 76,302
1 / 1









LODESTAR DAY RESOURCE CENTER
SSI/SSDI ACCESS AND RECOVERY (SOAR) PROGRAM
Perceived Need and Target Population
The Lodestar Day Resource Center is a principal program component of the Human Services
Campus (HSC), which is in its 11th year of operation. Along with its collaborative campus
partners, the LDRC is committed to creating solutions to end homelessness. The HSC/LDRC
provides services to Maricopa County homeless adults with the goal of ending their
homelessness by finding appropriate housing solutions for each adult served. With histories of
years on the street or in shelter, many of these vulnerable adults present with serious mental
health and physical health issues. For example, according to MMIC, the Maricopa County
Regional Behavioral Health Authority, 30% or more of the individuals accessing the campus
have mental health issues. Best practice demonstrates that the most effective way of
alleviating these conditions is to treat these individuals once they are out of shelter or off the
streets and in stable housing.
Identifying a funding source is key to acquiring appropriate housing for these individuals, a
majority of whom are eligible for Social Security Income or Social Security Disability Income.
The LDRC has established the SOAR program to expedite acquiring these sources of support
for eligible clients. SOAR is a national best practice model for assisting and expediting the
ability of eligible disabled individuals including individuals with mental health and/or physical
disabilities to secure Social Security Insurance (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance
(SSDI) benefits. National SOAR goals are to secure 65% first time approval of applications in
fewer than 100 days. Without SOAR assistance, only 25% of first time applications are
accepted with a positive or negative determination taking approximately 120 days.
Applications from individuals experiencing homelessness have first time success rates of only
10%.
How the SOAR Proposal Addresses the Need
The award period for non-renewable grant funding from MMIC-CABI for the current SOAR
program is over in September 2017. Total program cost to maintain SOAR is $112,157. This
proposal requests $76,302 to partially support continuation of the SOAR program, whose
objectives are continually to improve first-time SSI/SSD approval rates and reduce the average
number of days to approval.
Funding will support two dedicated and trained SOAR benefit specialists, who only handle
SOAR clients and applications. Responsibilities of SOAR benefit specialists include:
• Conducting pre-screening for clients seeking disability benefits.
• Accepting referrals from HSC and community partners. Clients from over 30 agencies
have been served through the SOAR Program.
• SOAR Specialists secure disability documentation, coordinate examinations and Social
Security appointments. Specialists maintain relationships with over 100 medical
1

providers including local hospitals, institutions, medical practitioners, and mental health
providers to expedite acquisition of medical disability documentation and verifications.
• Specialists prepare case files and assist clients with applications and prepare disability
statements for submittal to the Social Security Administration.
• Due to quality of applications, local Social Security Administration prioritizes and
expedites review of SOAR submitted claims reducing determination time.
• LDRC SOAR has an exclusive agreement with Social Security who assigns specific
claim representatives, case managers, and even medical consultants (doctors who
determine approvals or denials) to LDRC SOAR applications.
• Assist with appeals for denied SOAR claims.
• Secure payee services as necessary.
• Coordinate with supportive services providers for housing and other services.
During 2016, the SOAR staff has demonstrated great success in meeting its objectives as
illustrated below:
90% 79%83% Avg. Days to Approval
80%
70% 65%67% No SOAR 0 50 100 150
60% Assistance
50% SOAR Benchmark
Benchmark 100
40% 2016 SOAR
30% 25% National Data 101 2016 National
Data
20% LDRC SOAR 88 LDRC (2013 to
(2013 - Now) present)
10% LDRC 2016
64 LDRC 2016
0%
First Time
Approval Rate
Of the forty (40) SOAR applications processed by the LDRC SOAR program in 2016, 80% of
the clients
were serious mentally ill and had been homeless an average of 19 months. Thirty-three (83%)
of their applications were successfully approved in an average of 64 days and 36 (90%) were
housed within 40 days of SSI/SSDI approval. Their applications generated $22,500 in monthly
income and $143,000 in back payments for which they were eligible.
Other benefits associated with the SOAR Program include:
2

• Approximately 40% of Campus homeless clients report disability of long-term duration at
intake. Assessing and identifying income strategy and likelihood of benefit income is
critical to timely housing strategy.
• Reduces time disabled clients wait for disability income consistent with homeless goals of
reducing time individuals are in a condition of homelessness.
• Creates sustainable income stream and additional housing options beyond subsidized
programs.
• Especially effective engagement and outcomes for chronically homeless individuals with
chronic mental health and physical disabilities.
• LDRC program trains other case managers and benefit specialists for other agencies. The
LDRC lead specialist is State SOAR Coordinator.
• LDRC program has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maricopa County jail for
engaging SOAR services and medical records prior to release to homelessness, which
expedites the application process.
Other Funding Requests
The SOAR program has been supported by a non-renewable grant from MMIC-CABI. The
award term ends in September 2017.
Other Tribal Funding Received
The LDRC has received tribal support from:
The Gila River Indian Community in the amount of $90,910 for two years. Date of the award
was October 8, 2015.
The Salt River Pima Indian Community in the amount of $50.000. Date of the award was
summer of 2015, with funding received in January 2016.
Primary Contact and Alternative
Sheila D. Harris, PhD (primary)
Interim Executive Director
Human Services Campus
1125 W. Jackson St.
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
602-463-6315 (cell) 602-258-4615 (fax)
Linda Mushkatel (alternative)
LDRC/HSC Board Member
Human Services Campus
3

1125 W. Jackson St.
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
480-688-3537 (cell) 602-258-4615 (fax)
Priority Area: Health
Agreement with: Maricopa County
LODESTAR DAY RESOURCE CENTER
SSI/SSDI ACCESS AND RECOVERY (SOAR) PROGRAM
12-MONTH TOTAL PROGRAM BUDGET
BUDGET ITEM AMOUNT ($)
Salaries* 80,788
Employee related expenses (26%)* 21,428
Professional outside services 162
Security 66
Occupancy , utilities, space 6,044
Client supplies/direct support 462
Office supplies, printing, postage 1,616
Vehicles and mileage 595
Insurance 701
Staff development and training 295
TOTAL OPERATIONAL EXPENSE 112,157
*Of the total SOAR program cost of $112,157, The Lodestar
Resource Center is requesting $76,302 to support salaries
($60,557) and employee related expenses ($15,475) for 2.0 client
benefit specialists.
4