Income & Employment
Income is a critical part to successfully housing people previously experiencing homelessness. The Way Home Continuum of Care (CoC) has worked to integrate the homeless service system with income services through assessment, triage, and a referral to ensure all people receiving homeless services can access both housing and income resources. View the information below to see how you can assist people experiencing homelessness to gain and maintain employment and income!
Income Programs Overview
CFTH Homeless Response System (HRS) team coordinates with several workforce development community service providers to connect individuals participating in one a housing intervention program to a range of employment, education, and supportive services aimed at helping individuals improve economic stability and remain housed.
CRR Income Support Program
CRR Income Support Program | Career and Recovery Resources (CRR) Inc.,
For individuals experiencing physical, behavioral, and/or mental health difficulties, have been out of the workforce for extended periods, or has dealt with other housing-focused barriers. Services may include:
- Connections to employers who can provide paid work experience
- Job retention through work skills training, job coaching, and regular workplace appraisals
- Financial assistance for transportation, work clothes, tools, I.D. attainment
Wesley Day 1 Income Program
Wesley Day 1 Income Program | Wesley Community Center
For individuals who are pregnant and/or parenting minor-dependent children. Services may include:
- Connections to GED and vocational training (healthcare, customer service, electrician, other)
- Financial assistance for childcare, transportation, work clothes, tools
- Connections to childcare providers, transportation, work clothes, tools
- Wrap-around support services to gain and/or maintain employment
- Financial assistance for childcare, transportation, work clothes, tools
BOL Day 1 Income Program
BOL Day 1 Income Program | Bread of Life, Inc. (BOL)
For individuals who are pregnant and/or parenting minor-dependent children. Services may include:
- Connections to GED and vocational training (healthcare and customer services)
- Connections to childcare providers, transportation, work clothes, tools
- Wrap-around support services to gain and/or maintain employment
- Financial assistance for childcare, transportation, work clothes, tools
Income Now Program
Income Now Program | Workforce Solutions
For individuals that are facing financial and/or housing instability, have recent work experience, and can travel independently to a Workforce Solutions career center. Services may include:
- Employer listings and referrals to job openings
- Job search advice, job fairs, hiring events, resume assistance
- Copier, fax, telephones, and computers
- Scholarships and financial aid for childcare raining, education, and childcare
The CFTH HRS team is here to assist you! Please contact us for more information about our Income programs, how you can help your clients connect to various income and employment stability resources, information about the resources available in our community, technical assistance, and more at cfthincome@homelesshouston.org.
Mainstream Benefits
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) | Texas Health and
Human Services
SNAP helps low-income individuals and families buy food needed for good health.
- ABAWD work rules apply to people between ages 18 – 55, no children under 18 in household, must be fit to work or in employment program at least 80 hours in a 30-day calendar period
- ABAWD Exemptions: Homelessness, Pregnant, Veteran, Former Foster Care Youth under 25, Households with children under 18
- Program Overview, Eligibility, and Income Limits | Texas Health and Human Services
- Apply for SNAP and Application Tips | Your Texas Benefits
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Texas Health and Human Services
TANF provides cash payments to families with children under 18 to pay for food, clothing, housing, utilities, furniture, transportation, phone service, laundry, household supplies, medical supplies, and other basic needs.
- Eligibility, Rules, and Monthly Income Limits | Texas Health and Human Services
- Apply for TANF and Application Tips | Your Texas Benefits
Unemployment Insurance (UI)
Unemployment Insurance (UI) | Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)
UI is an employer-paid program provides temporary financial assistance to workers unemployed through no fault of their own and meet Texas’ eligibility requirements
Must be a resident of Texas and meet the following:
- Unemployed or working reduced hours through no fault of the client
- Working in Texas during past 12 months or longer
- Earned minimum amount of past wages and meet ongoing eligibility requirements
Unemployment Insurance Resources:
Veteran Disability Compensation
Veteran Disability Compensation | Veteran Affairs (VA)
VA compensation is for individuals that are facing financial and/or housing instability, have recent work experience, and can travel independently to a Workforce Solutions career center. Services may include:
Veteran Pension
Veteran Pension | Veteran Affairs (VA)
Veteran pension provides monthly payments to wartime Veterans who meet certain age or disability requirements, and have income and net worth within certain limits.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) | Social Security Administration (SSA)
SSI is a needs-based public assistance program that does not require a person to have work history.
- Pays disabled individuals (children and adults) who are unable to work, have limited income, and limited resources
- Payments come from general treasury fund, not Social Security trust funds (not based on a person’s earnings)
- Check Eligibility for Benefits & Apply for benefits | SSA
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) | Social Security Administration (SSA)
SSDI is an insurance that workers earn by paying Social Security taxes on their wages
SOAR Initiative
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) provides increased access to the disability benefit programs administered by the Social Security Administration, for eligible adults who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and have a disability that prevents them from working. The Way Home CoC incorporates SSI/SSDI basic SSI/SSDI eligibility questions into the coordinated entry assessments, so that individuals without adequate income who may qualify for Social Security disability benefits receive immediate referrals to local SOAR providers as appropriate. These assessments for income support needs are done concurrently with housing-related needs assessments, such that individuals experiencing homelessness are rapidly placed into housing and referred to appropriate supportive services as needed and desired.
The SOAR Online Course trains providers to assist individuals with the Social Security disability application process. The course includes an Adult Curriculum for assisting with SSI and SSDI claims for adults, and a Child Curriculum for assisting with SSI claims for children. View more information below:
- The SOAR Online Course: Adult and Child Curriculums are free and are located on the SOARWorks website (https://soarworks.prainc.com/content/soar-online-course-catalog).
- Each curriculum consists of seven classes, each of which has a series of articles, short quizzes, and a practice case component. The practice case provides an opportunity for trainees to apply what they have learned in the course by completing a sample application packet for a fictitious applicant using SOAR techniques.
- It takes approximately 20 hours to complete each curriculum and participants can work at their own pace, starting and stopping as they wish. However, we encourage students to complete the curriculum within 30 days to retain the information learned.
- Upon successful completion, participants will receive 20 CEUs (continuing education units) from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
Screening and Referral Training:
- Identifying and Referring a SOAR Client (pdf)
- SOAR Fax Cover Sheet (word document)
- Vulnerable Populations SSI Referral (pdf)
SOAR-Trained Service Provider Events & Materials:
- SSA & CFTH Collaboration Presentation - April 2021
- SOAR SSA Local Process Training - May 2021
- SOAR SSA Process - August 2022
- SOAR SSA Process (fillable form) - August 2022
Employment Partners
Currently Income Now referrals are sent exclusively to Work Force Solutions. Our goal is to include community employment partners. If interested, please contact the Coalition's Income team at cfthincome@homelesshouston.org. for more information.
Program Flyers & Information
Our partners are always here to help! Check out the information below on ongoing and current programs, as well as available classes and services.
