Economic Stability for Disabled Survivors of DV, SA and HT

Many victim service agencies have found that financial independence for survivors is crucial to long term stability and recovery from abuse. But what happens when individuals struggle to return to work, sustain their employment, or manage their personal finances?

At Sojourner House we sought to find ways to provide more viable forms of economic stability for survivors who were disabled or not yet ready to return to the workplace full-time. Our utilization of SAMHSA’s SOAR Works program has enabled us to serve 120 disabled survivors in navigating Social Security Benefits, generating more than $350,000 in sustainable client income.

This presentation was formerly presented at the Economic Justice Summit hosted by the
National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). It outlines the needs and barriers
disabled victims of violence face and will address how to support individuals in reclaiming some financial independence. We will cover; needs and barriers specific to survivors, how the Social Security system works, how the SOAR model improves application success, and how access to benefits improves economic stability and long term recovery for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

OBJECTIVES
1. Participants will be able to define and explore the overlapping challenges faced by
individuals who experience disabling conditions or exacerbated symptoms as a result of
domestic violence.
2. They will examine the unique barriers and vulnerabilities that survivors with disabilities
face in regards to accessing benefits and obtaining financial security.
3. Participants will understand and identify the different types of Social Security benefits
available to individuals such as; disability, survivors benefits, and retirement.
4. They will be shown how connections to violence and disability can be used to build a
successful case for benefits.
5. Participants will analyze how Social Security benefits can contribute to the economic
stability of survivors of violence with disabilities.
6. They will be given tools for providing SOAR referrals or integrating the SOAR model into
their own existing support services.
These objectives provide a clear framework for participants to understand key concepts and practical applications related to the intersection of disability, victim violence, and Social Security benefits.

Presented by:

Evan Jones (he/they) is the SOAR Disability Coordinator at Sojourner House working to create access and long term financial support to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or human trafficking who experience disabling conditions. He also acts as a local State Lead providing training on the SOAR Works model to other agencies, facilitating the certification of new caseworkers, and mentoring SOAR certified advocates in the state of Rhode Island. Evan is an experienced presenter and facilitator who has presented at various venues including the Rhode Island SOAR Bootcamp, The Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference, Brown University LGBTQ+ Center, Rhode Island College, and more.

Contact Information

Evan Jones

[email protected]

Host or Publisher Sojourner House