Budget Amendment ID: FY2012-S3-265
ECO 265
Emergency Access Eligibility
Mr. Eldridge and Ms. Fargo moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 7004-0101, by striking out the words:
“provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law or program regulation to the contrary: (i) those families that shall be eligible for assistance through a temporary emergency family shelter shall be only: (a) families that are at risk of domestic abuse in their current housing situation; and (b) families that, through no fault of their own, are homeless due to fire or natural disaster; and (ii) all families otherwise eligible for temporary emergency family shelter pursuant to departmental regulations, including those families otherwise eligible under clause (i) of this proviso, in which the head of household is not more than 21 years of age at the time of application for emergency assistance, shall be served only through a young families congregate housing program; provided further, that such facilities shall not be subject to licensing requirements of the executive office of health and human services; provided further, that a family may receive temporary assistance from this item pending placement in housing under item 7004-0108; provided further, that temporary assistance under this item shall be terminated upon the offer of housing assistance under item 7004-0108; provided further, that a family shall not decline an offer for housing assistance if the offer accommodates the size and disabilities of the family and the new housing placement will not result in a job loss for the client or interruption of special education services provided pursuant to an individualized education plan;” and inserting in place thereof the words: --
provided further, that households eligible for assistance from this item shall as soon as possible, and prior to shelter placement whenever possible, be placed in feasible, alternative housing, including housing temporarily supported by the program of short-term transitional housing under item 7004-0108; provided further, that no household that satisfies program eligibility requirements in effect on May 15, 2011 or as subsequently revised consistent with this item shall be denied access to emergency shelter if it does not have feasible, alternative housing currently and immediately available to it, including but not limited to housing funded with temporary assistance under 7004-0108; provided further, that temporary assistance under this item shall be terminated when feasible, alternative housing, including housing assisted under 7004-0108, becomes available; provided further, any family that declines an offer of adequate and actually available housing, including housing supported through item 7004-0108, without good cause as defined in 106 CMR 309.040(F)(1)(b) shall become ineligible for assistance from this item; provided further, that in order to reduce the length of shelter stays families placed in emergency shelter, motels, or emergency housing under this item or item 7004-0108 shall be provided with housing search services within 30 days of placement; provided further, that funds shall be expended for homelessness prevention services and resources for families who have incomes at or below 115 per cent of the federal poverty limit and include a child under age 21 or a pregnant woman; provided further, that such prevention services shall be administered by community action agencies and other community based organizations, shall be provided on first-come, first-serve basis and shall include landlord/tenant mediation, legal assistance to prevent eviction, housing search services stabilization services;