An effective advocate doesn't just offer advice; they actively engage in the complex, frustrating, and often bureaucratic process of securing resources.
Here is a breakdown of how a dedicated advocate helps an unhoused person get the resources they need, which goes far beyond what a person can usually do on their own:
1. Navigating Bureaucracy and Eligibility
The process of accessing resources is not a simple referral—it's a bureaucratic minefield.
System Knowledge: Advocates are trained experts in the local network of providers (e.g., homeless shelters, food banks, mental health clinics, HUD/PHA housing). We know exactly where to go and who to talk to, saving the client months of frustrating dead ends.
Documentation: Advocates help gather, organize, and submit the extensive documentation required for benefits (SSDI, SNAP, Medicaid, housing vouchers). We can obtain birth certificates, IDs, and medical records, which are nearly impossible for a person experiencing homelessness to manage.
Eligibility and Enrollment: We walk the client through complex applications for housing programs, often serving as the primary contact for the Coordinated Entry System (CES), which is the gatekeeper to most housing resources.
2. Providing Stability and Case Management
The core role is providing consistency and follow-through, which is often missing in a person's life while unhoused.
Crisis Intervention: Advocates are trained to manage and de-escalate crises, whether they are related to mental health, substance use, or immediate shelter needs.
Personalized Planning: We create individualized case management plans that track the steps needed for stability, from obtaining medical care to job training.
Accountability: We serve as a stable, predictable contact. We attend appointments with the client, ensuring the client shows up and understands the information being provided.
3. Overcoming Systemic Barriers
Advocates often fight on behalf of the client to overcome barriers that are not the client's fault.
Discrimination/Bias: We can intervene when a client is unfairly denied housing or benefits based on past history (like a criminal record) or perceived instability.
Language and Literacy: We fill the gaps for clients who struggle with literacy, language barriers, or cognitive issues, ensuring forms are correctly filled out and appointments are understood.
Bridging the Gap: In the context of our partnership with Bridge Bread Bakery, we are the crucial link between the client's employment at Bridge Bread and their overall need for permanent housing and health services. We ensure the client does not fall through the cracks during the transition out of the employment program.
In summary, the advocate is the essential guide, translator, and administrative assistant who manages the complexity of the systems, allowing the unhoused person to focus on stabilizing their own life.
In addition, Advocates can apply for funding for clients from the Crisis Intervention Fund when things are out of control. Decisions on funding are made in a careful process according to Crisis Funding Criteria.