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Man's success story shows how SOAR program works

By Larry Sackett StarNews Correspondent Published: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 2:21 p.m.   One year ago Howard Long, 50, was homeless, had no income, and was living outdoors. He had been to the emergency room at least twice and had been arrested for sleeping in public.   Today Long rents an apartment, pays for groceries and utilities and has health insurance from Medicare.   What changed Long’s life is an innovative program called SOAR, which last year helped get 31 chronically homeless people in New Hanover County into housing.   SOAR stands for SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery.   SSI is Supplemental Security Income and SSDI is Social Security Disability Insurance; both are administered by the Social Security Administration.   SOAR is part of the Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness in the Cape Fear Region, which is administered …