FirstStep
To learn more about the information featured on FirstStep and how you can use it, click on one of the questions below or scroll down.
>What
is FirstStep?
FirstStep is an easy-to-use, interactive tool for case managers,
outreach workers, and others working with people who are homeless.
The information on this CD-ROM will help you assist your clients to
access benefits from Federal mainstream benefit programs.
FirstStep offers advice on how to be a good benefits counselor as well as helpful, timesaving tips from others who work with people who are homeless. In addition, it includes Tools and Resources you can use to keep all of the benefits information in one place or learn about other programs and organizations that may benefit your client but are not included on this CD-ROM.
>How
can FirstStep help case managers and outreach workers?
As a case manager or outreach worker, FirstStep will help you:
- Understand “mainstream resources”
- Identify the major mainstream benefit programs for which your clients are eligible
- Help ensure your clients receive benefits they are entitled to
>What are “mainstream resources"?
"Mainstream resources" is a term used to describe a variety of Federal and state benefit government assistance programs your clients may be eligible to receive.
"Mainstream resources" are not targeted to assist
individuals who are homeless. Rather, persons who are homeless must qualify
for assistance based on their disability and/or economic status.
Together, mainstream (non-targeted) service resources or benefit programs account
for billions of dollars in Federal and state funds available nationally to
provide low-income persons, including individuals and families who are homeless,
with cash payments and supportive services for needs such as housing, health
care, job training, and food and nutrition services.
>Why is accessing mainstream resources important?
For a variety of reasons, many people who are homeless
are not accessing the mainstream services to which they are entitled.
Only a fraction of homeless individuals and families access mainstream
benefit programs such as: Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Social
Security Disability Income (SSDI); Veteran's Benefits; Medicaid; and
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Addressing the various housing and supportive service needs of persons who
are homeless nationwide requires significant resources. Congress appropriates
several hundred billion dollars each year for mainstream assistance programs.
Nearly half of HUD's competitive homeless assistance funds are used to provide
supportive services, as opposed to housing. When providers assist homeless
persons in identifying and successfully accessing mainstream assistance programs,
the need to use HUD's homeless assistance funds to provide supportive services
will decline, allowing those funds to be increasingly used to develop more
needed housing. Accessing mainstream resources can lead to the ability to house
more people who are homeless, as well as provide them with the supportive services
they need - a "win-win" proposition.
>What
are the benefits and limitations of FirstStep?
FirstStep focuses on the following major mainstream
benefit programs:
- Food Stamps
- Medicaid
- Medicare
- One-Stop Career Center System
- Social Security
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Veterans Affairs Health Care (VA)
- Veterans Affairs Compensation (VA)
Within each benefit program, there is information offered regarding benefits your client may receive, eligibility requirements, the application process, what benefits your client may receive if he/she is an immigrant, as well as contact information and, in some cases, training materials.
There are additional programs that may benefit your clients who are homeless that are not included in FirstStep. Where available, we have provided a link to these programs in the Resources section of FirstStep. Some of these programs include:
- Community Development Block Grant
- Community Mental Health Services Block Grant
- Community Service Block Grant
- HOME Investment Partnership
- Housing Choice Vouchers
- Social Services Block Grant
- Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant
- Welfare-to-Work
- Workforce Investment
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>How
is FirstStep organized?
FirstStep is organized in five categories based on your clients'
basic needs:
> Food Assistance
- Food Stamps
- Social Security
- Social Security Disability Insurance [SSDI]
- Supplemental Security Income [SSI]
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families [TANF]
- Veterans Affairs Compensation (VA)
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- State Children’s Health Insurance Program [SCHIP]
- Veterans Affairs Health Care
(VA)
- One-Stop Career Center System
> Housing Assistance
FirstStep matches mainstream benefit programs to each of these
need-areas. Within each need-area, you will receive:
- Information about eligibility
- Advice and steps about applying for the benefits
- Detailed information, including links to the mainstream benefit programs
In addition, FirstStep features a Client Benefit Worksheet you can use to keep all of your clients’ benefits information and appointments in one place and a Contact Sheet to keep all of your state and local program representatives contacts in one place. Both of these can be found in FirstStep's Tools & Resources section.
What computer software is needed to use FirstStep?
To use the Firststep CD-ROM, you will need to have Internet Explorer version 5.0 or newer installed on your computer. If you do not have Internet Explorer, you will need to visit the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com in order to download the software for your MAC or PC.
For MAC:
Go to http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/internetexplorer/internetexplorer.aspx?pid=internetexplorer to download the most recent version of Internet Explorer for Mac.
For PC:
Go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp to download the most recent version of Internet Explorer for Windows.
For
viewing Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files
Adobe Acrobat / PDF files are used to retain the formatting of printed documents. To view PDF files, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
To
download Adobe Acrobat Reader, go to:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
For
viewing Word files
Word is a popular word processing application. The viewer is available for
Windows and MacOS platforms. Additionally, most other office suites (e.g.,
StarOffice, Lotus, WordPerfect) can read Word files.
If you do not have Microsoft Word installed on your computer,
you can visit Microsoft online to choose from a list of converters or
viewers that will aid you in your use of the Word files on this CD-ROM.
Go to: http://office.microsoft.com/assistance/preview.aspx?AssetID=HA010449811033&CTT=6&Origin=EC010553071033