Code of Maine Rules › 99 - INDEPENDENT AGENCIES › 346 - MAINE STATE HOUSING AUTHORITY › Chapter 19 - HOMELESS SOLUTIONS RULE › Section 346-19-3 - Emergency Shelter Requirements

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Applicants that are Emergency Shelters must do the
				  following:
A. provide access 365 days
				per year to assist Persons Experiencing Homelessness meet basic emergency
				shelter needs;
B. provide adequate
				sleeping space or beds, and clean and functioning shower and toilet
				facilities;
C. provide safe and
				nutritious food, including breakfast or access to breakfast and, if open 24
				hours, also provide lunch and dinner or access to lunch and dinner;
D. treat all guests with dignity and respect,
				regardless of religious or political beliefs, cultural background, disability,
				gender identity or sexual orientation;
E. provide shelter and housing services based
				upon a Rapid Re-housing or Housing First approach;
F. have admittance and stay policies that are
				appropriate for the population served and do not create unnecessary barriers to
				guests staying;
G. provide linkages
				and access to community resources such as health care, job readiness and
				employment services, Mainstream Resources, and educational services to assist
				guests in achieving housing stability;
H. assess guests for program eligibility and
				services to enable mobility to permanent housing with adequate
				supports;
I. inform guests of their
				rights and responsibilities, including specific shelter policies and house
				rules;
J. accept eligible persons
				regardless of their ability to pay or their eligibility for reimbursement or
				actual reimbursements from any third party source, including local, municipal,
				state, or federal funding sources;
K. have no lease requirements for
				guests;
L. if serving families with
				children, provide space other than open dormitory style and do not require
				involuntary family separation for admission;
M. provide separate accommodations for male
				and female consumers consistent with their gender identity;
N. protect the privacy and confidentiality of
				guests and their personal information;
O. provide training, policies, procedures and
				regular maintenance to encourage, improve, and maintain the health and safety
				of guests, volunteers and staff;
P.
				post fire, disaster, and other emergency procedures in a conspicuous place and
				review the procedures with each guest;
Q. maintain a daily and confidential census
				of shelter clients including precise sleeping locations;
R. operate in compliance with all applicable
				federal, state and local codes, laws and regulations; and
S. have written policies and procedures for
				standards that address the following areas: non-discrimination, client
				grievance and appeal of termination, approval of financial transactions, record
				retention, procurement, whistleblowers, access to shelter and services, client
				rights and responsibilities, program personnel and facility operations, health
				and safety, food preparation and distribution, electronic data and security,
				Fair Housing, and Drug Free Workplace. All policies must meet federal
				guidelines.