Homeless Outreach

Street Outreach

In cooperation with partnering agencies across the county, the Covenant House Homeless Outreach program seeks to move those experiencing chronic homelessness into permanent, stable housing through intensive outreach, case management, and support services.  A Covenant House case manager visits Manna Meal (Charleston's downtown soup kitchen) to meet up with any newcomers or others who might need help or direction.  Riverbank encampments and other camp sites are visited regularly. 

In an effort to build rapport and trust, the case manager seeks to meet individuals where they are in the hopes of eventually linking them to the array of available housing, social, and health services.  Case management is continued for up to one year for program participants gaining permanent housing to make sure those who access such resources sustain it.

Benefits Assistance

Following the national SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) model, Covenant House’s SOAR Program helps people who are mentally ill and homeless obtain social security benefits as a first step toward their long-term recovery.  The SOAR case manager works to increase the number of successful applications for SSI and SSDI among eligible people who are homeless.  Naturally, the objective is not to make everyone eligible, but rather to make all eligible people approved upon application.  This supports the Covenant House premise that, only after basic needs are met, can anyone focus on recovery.  SOAR is a critical step toward ending homelessness for people with disabilities in Charleston, offering a way to recover and become successful, contributing citizens.  Through receiving this monthly income, people experiencing homelessness will have a way to meet their basic housing and health care needs without the constant need for emergency assistance from the community.