Hi Everyone,

Sorry if anyone has already asked this question but really need suggestions/help for a solution.  This is going to be something all housing provider agencies will be running into the longer we are on quarantine…

The situation for a family who’s been referred to CCS PSH housing opening. She fully qualifies meeting chronicity and HOH having a disability. I did the intake and she had all her documents except 2 Social Security Cards for 2 of her three children. We were able to track down one of them through copies from DSHS.  The other one is still needed before we can move forward with Housing Authority paperwork and Tax credit property compliance paperwork to get her housed. 

I reached out to Tacoma Social Security Administration field office District Manager, Kriste Stern, asking how we can obtain this card due to the offices being closed.  She stated that the only way is to fill out a paper application and the client would have to send in her ORIGINAL identifying documents (ID and Birth Certificate) to the office and wait for them to be processed.  Who know how long this will take…AND will she ever get them back?  I can guarantee SSA will lose the documents or miss place them.  Only because I help clients apply for benefits and I can tell you that at least 15 of my clients applications were “lost”…..ANYWAY (that’s another story)

I asked if there was any way we could schedule an appointment for her to come in to get this document and was told all in person appointments were  being reserved for DIRE situations. 

“cough, cough” isn’t homelessness a DIRE situation???

In my opinion, a family trying to get out of homelessness, sleeping in a car, with a disabled parent and a disabled child IS a DIRE situation.

Does anyone know who we can reach out to and get an appeal for an appointment to get this 1 document needed to get her housed?  I’m ready to call Jesse Jones…lol

NO family should have to wait to get into housing until the government returns to “normal” operations.  Especially if we as providers can ensure the client will have PPE and the SS employees are already behind 5 inches of glass…

Also, maybe some other suggestions of other agencies we can approach who might have copies….Client’s memory is very limited.

Thank you fellow Advocates. Feeling frustrated for this family!

Patty Schneider

CCS/PSH Financial Case Manager

253-208-9761