Here's what my Seattle social-services friend suggests. Basically along the lines of what everyone else is saying...
(1) Fill out the SSDI (Social Security Disability) application online. Doesn’t have to be 100% complete, just fill out as much as possible. The name of her prescribing doctor would be helpful. After each section is completed, make a copy (print-out) for her to save for her records.
Oregon DHS: Disabilty benefits - Disability Determination Services (DDS)
(2) Social Security will then send a letter to her mailing address, with short instructions on how to complete her application.
After she submits the initial online application (#1 above), she can then take her copies to DHS and tell a counselor that her disability application is “pending” and ask them for help... either financial help to stay in her apartment, or help getting into disability housing.
If she can get some financial help (even short-term), that qualifies as income... and if she has a little income, that qualifies her for low-income housing.
So in a nutshell – if she can’t get into disability housing right away, maybe she can get into low-income housing sooner.
(3) If she has a mental illness, then she might be happier in a group home setting. You can get a list of women-only group homes, and visit each home as a “walk-in” visitor. That’s a good way to see the homes as they really are. The level of noise is a consideration, as is personal privacy. You can visit the homes more than once, of course.
I forgot to ask about the application process for group homes...