New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 18 - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES › Chapter II - Regulations of the Department of Social Services › Subchapter B - Public Assistance › Article 1 - Determination of Eligibility-General › Part 352 - Standards of Assistance › Section 352.38 - Security measures in shelters for the homeless

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
(a) On an annual basis, the operator of each
			 emergency shelter that is not operating pursuant to an operational plan
			 approved by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (the office) as
			 required by section
			 491.3 or
			 900.3 
			 of this Title, and each emergency shelter that has not been issued an operating
			 certificate pursuant to either section
			 491.4 or
			 900.4  of this
			 Title shall submit to the office and the social services district in which the
			 emergency shelter is located a plan for the emergency shelter to provide
			 security and help ensure the physical safety of residents and staff. The social
			 services district shall assess the adequacy of the plan and shall share the
			 results of that assessment with the office. For purposes of this section,
emergency shelter
shall mean any facility with overnight
			 sleeping accommodations, the primary purpose of which is to provide temporary
			 shelter to recipients of temporary housing assistance. Based upon the
			 individual characteristics of each emergency shelter, including, but not
			 limited to, the location of the emergency shelter and the extent to which the
			 location is known in the community, the size of the emergency shelter,
			 construction characteristics of the emergency shelter, the homeless population
			 served by the emergency shelter, and use of the building or site location for
			 purposes other than the provision of shelter and services to the homeless, the
			 security plan shall address, among other things:
(1) measures taken to control access to the
			 emergency shelter, including but not limited to admittance procedures in place
			 for persons entering the facility and the installation and use of safety locks
			 on exit and entry doors, security devices such as metal detectors, cameras and
			 security or alarm systems;
(2) the
			 surveillance of the grounds, facility and activities of the residents to
			 prevent theft and resident harm;
(3) the training and deployment of staff
			 responsible for security, and in the case of emergency shelters with mental
			 health or domestic violence programs, the availability of security staff
			 trained in recognizing and responding to mental health or domestic violence
			 issues;
(4) fire safety measures,
			 and the emergency shelter's emergency and disaster plans, including but not
			 limited to, procedures for conducting and supervising facility evacuations and
			 periodic evacuation drills; actions taken in advance of an emergency to prepare
			 emergency shelter employees to be ready for an emergency;
(5) procedures for handling and documenting
			 individual emergencies, including arranging for medical care or other emergency
			 services, maintaining records of any special medical needs or conditions, the
			 prescribed regimens to be followed, and the names and phone numbers of medical
			 doctors to contact should an emergency arise concerning these conditions;
			 and
(6) safety measures provided
			 for emergency shelter staff.