3004                                     LAWS OF MARYLAND                                   Ch. 851

Article 88A - Social Services Administration

HOMELESS WOMEN - SHELTER

124.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS AND DECLARES THAT AN
INCREASING NUMBER OF WOMEN IN THIS STATE ARE HOMELESS. THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY FURTHER FINDS THAT THESE WOMEN HAVE BEEN
IGNORED BY STATE AGENCIES AND THE CURRENT STATE OPERATED
PROGRAMS DO NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. AS A
RESULT, THERE IS A LACK OF QUALITY EMERGENCY PUBLIC OR
PRIVATE HOUSING AVAILABLE FOR THESE WOMEN.

125.

AS USED IN THIS SUBTITLE, "CLIENT" MEANS WOMEN WHO ARE
IN NEED OF HOUSING AND NOT ELIGIBLE FOR OTHER AVAILABLE
HOUSING SERVICES.

126.

(A)  (1) THERE IS A MODEL CRISIS SHELTER HOME FOR
HOMELESS WOMEN UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

(2) THE MODEL SHELTER SHALL BE LOCATED IN A
MAJOR POPULATION CENTER OF THIS STATE IN ORDER TO FACILITATE
THE USE OF THE SHELTER BY THOSE CLIENTS LIVING IN THE REGION
SURROUNDING THE SHELTER.

(B)  THE PURPOSE OF THE MODEL SHELTER SHALL BE TO
PROVIDE SHELTER, MEALS, AND COUNSELING TO CLIENTS.

(C)  CLIENTS SHALL HAVE COOPERATIVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
HOUSEKEEPING DUTIES IN THE SHELTER.

(D)  THE SHELTER HOME SHALL BE DESIGNED AND STAFFED AS
FOLLOWS:

(1) THE SHELTER SHALL PROVIDE CLIENTS' CLIENTS
WITH A TEMPORARY RESIDENCE OF NOT MORE THAN 8 CONTINUOUS
WEEKS AND NECESSARY COUNSELING TO LINK CLIENTS TO
APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY SERVICES IN ORDER TO STABILIZE THE
CLIENTS' LIVING CONDITIONS;

(2) THE SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION SHALL
SUPERVISE, DIRECT, CONTROL, AND MANAGE THE SHELTER HOME;

(3 2) (I) THE SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
SHALL ESTABLISH STANDARDS OF CARE AND ADMISSION POLICIES.

(II) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL MONITOR THE
OPERATION OF THE SHELTER HOME AND TWICE EACH YEAR EVALUATE
ITS EFFECTIVENESS;

(4 3) THE SHELTER HOME IS SUBJECT TO RULES AND
REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY THE SOCIAL SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION;