S.F. Taps Into Underutilized Federal Funds To Help Disabled Homeless
San Francisco has committed counselors, doctors and lawyers to its sweeping efforts to get more people enrolled with the Supplemental Security Income program.
San Francisco Chronicle:
For San Francisco's Disabled Homeless, Federal Benefits Remain Elusive
As cities like San Francisco struggle to fight homelessness, SSI represents a critical pot of money that can help save people from the streets while significantly relieving local budgets. But across California, thousands of people who are homeless or living in temporary housing are not enrolled in SSI even though they are likely eligible because of a disability, including mental illness. (Alexander, 12/6)
In other news —
KQED News:
Did The Emptying Of Mental Hospitals Contribute To Homelessness?
Earlier this year, we asked for your questions on homelessness. More than 1,300 of you responded and we answered many of your questions in our first round of reporting. There was one topic that kept coming up again and again as we sorted your questions. This week on the podcast, we answer listener Debbie Ow’s question: “Is the situation as bad as it is because of the closure of mental health facilities in our state?” (Placzek, 12/8)
KQED:
Four-Legged Medical Care Helps San Francisco’s Homeless
The saying “dogs are a man’s best friend” is just a phrase, but to those living on the streets and battling housing insecurity, it can be the honest truth. For people who are contending with homelessness, their companion animals are the world to them. They are their family, their children and their sense of security. But getting proper medical care for their animals can often be even harder than getting it for themselves. (Hosea-Small, 12/7)