Texas Administrative Code › Title 10 - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT › Part 1 - TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS › Chapter 7 - HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS › Subchapter B - HOMELESS HOUSING AND SERVICES PROGRAM (HHSP) › Section 7.29 - Shelter and Housing Standards

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a) Minimum
				  standards for emergency shelters. Any building for which HHSP funds are used
				  for construction, rehabilitation, conversion, or other renovation, must meet
				  state or local government safety and sanitation standards, as applicable, and
				  the following minimum safety and sanitation standards. Any emergency shelter
				  that receives assistance for shelter operations must also meet the following
				  minimum safety and sanitation standards.
(1)
				  Structure and materials. The shelter building must be structurally sound to
				  protect residents from the elements and not pose any threat to health and
				  safety of the residents. Any renovation (including major rehabilitation and
				  conversion) carried out with HHSP assistance must use Energy Star and
				  WaterSense or equivalent products and appliances.
(2) Access. The shelter must be accessible in
				  accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C.
				  794) and implementing regulations at 24 CFR
				  Part 8; the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) as
				  outlined in 10 TAC Chapter 1, Subchapter B, and implementing regulations at 24
				  CFR Part 100; and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act
				  (42 U.S.C.
				  12131 et seq.) and 28 CFR Part 35; where
				  applicable.
(3) Space and security.
				  Except where the shelter is intended for day use only, the shelter must provide
				  each program participant in the shelter with an acceptable place to sleep and
				  adequate space and security for themselves and their belongings.
(4) Interior air quality. Each room or space
				  within the shelter must have a natural or mechanical means of ventilation. The
				  interior air must be free of pollutants at a level that might threaten or harm
				  the health of residents.
(5) Water
				  supply. The shelter's water supply must be free of contamination.
(6) Sanitary facilities. Each program
				  participant in the shelter must have access to sanitary facilities that are in
				  proper operating condition and are adequate for personal cleanliness and the
				  disposal of human waste.
(7)
				  Thermal environment. The shelter must have any necessary heating/cooling
				  facilities in proper operating condition.
(8) Illumination and electricity. The shelter
				  must have adequate natural or artificial illumination to permit normal indoor
				  activities and support health and safety. There must be sufficient electrical
				  sources to permit the safe use of electrical appliances in the
				  shelter.
(9) Food preparation. Food
				  preparation areas, if any, must contain suitable space and equipment to store,
				  prepare, and serve food in a safe and sanitary manner.
(10) Sanitary conditions. The shelter must be
				  maintained in a sanitary condition.
(11) Fire safety. There must be at least one
				  working smoke detector in each occupied unit of the shelter. Where possible,
				  smoke detectors must be located near sleeping areas. The fire alarm system must
				  be designed for hearing-impaired residents. All public areas of the shelter
				  must have at least one working smoke detector. There must also be a second
				  means of exiting the building in the event of fire or other
				  emergency.