He sounds like the might actually be mentally ill given his six month and then three year homeless stretches when he would have qualified for housing although the problem might have been going to the psychiatrist in the first place. Generally, going to a psychiatrist is not a good idea.
People on SSI earn low income and are eligible for section 8 housing, food stamps, and medicaid. They can also work up to approximately what they earn off SSI. Some states (like California) give a small top up as well. It’s a little hard to feel too sorry for them which is why they always focus on the small direct federal cash component of their welfare.
That said, I would never want to be on SSI. I know two siblings on it who are really just too lazy to want to work and want to spend their lives as an ‘artists’ while also using drugs. They’re dependent bums but they makes full use of all his benefits (SSI, food stamps, section 8 housing, and medicaid). They tried working a few times very briefly but they would rather us working folk support them.
Incidentally, it was going to a psychiatrist in the first place that set them on this path because the psychiatrist made them aware of it and all the people they met in group therapy were on it. In order to get SSI they faked crazy. Its infuriating to the taxpayers that have to support people like this and there are a lot of them.
He wasn't allowed to move out. His payee threatened to cut off his allowence if he did. In the end the city of Vancouver condemned the building and kicked everyone out. So he had to wait yet another year or two while Julio and his 8 kids can get everything right away.