WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                   Ch. 236

THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMINISTER A PROGRAM OF FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE TO LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS BY PROVIDING FIXED MONTHLY
RENTAL ALLOWANCE PAYMENTS TO OR ON BEHALF OF ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS.

2-603.

THE SECRETARY SHALL ESTABLISH:

(1)  INCOME LIMITS FOR ELIGIBILITY OF LOWER INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH MAY NOT EXCEED 30 PERCENT OF THE STATE OR AREA
MEDIAN INCOME, WHICHEVER IS HIGHER;

(2)  THE MAXIMUM TIME PERIOD FOR THE PROVISION OF
ALLOWANCES TO A SPECIFIC HOUSEHOLD, WHICH SHALL NOT EXCEED 12
CONSECUTIVE MONTHS EXCEPT WHEN THE SECRETARY DETERMINES THAT
UNDUE HARDSHIP WOULD RESULT IF ASSISTANCE IS TERMINATED;

(3)  THE MAXIMUM TOTAL RENT FOR AN ASSISTED UNIT, THE
SIZE OF AN ASSISTED UNIT, AND THE AMOUNT OF THE MONTHLY RENTAL
ALLOWANCE PAYMENTS BY HOUSEHOLD SIZE, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT:

(I)  REGIONAL VARIANCE WITHIN THE STATE;

(II)  EXPECTED AVERAGE ANNUAL RECIPIENT INCOME
BY HOUSEHOLD SIZE;

(III)  TYPICAL RENTAL COSTS; AND

(IV)  ANY OTHER FACTOR RELATIVE TO INCOME OR
RENTAL COSTS;

(4)  MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSING UNITS; AND

(5)  A METHOD OF SELECTING LOCATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING
THE PROGRAM THAT INSURES THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS AMONG THE
VARIOUS REGIONS OF THE STATE.

2-604.

HOUSING RENTAL ALLOWANCE PAYMENTS MAY ONLY BE GIVEN TO OR ON
BEHALF OF:

(1) HOMELESS PERSONS WHO:

(I)  DO NOT HAVE PERMANENT HOUSING;

(II)  HAVE INSUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO SECURE SUCH
HOUSING;

(III)  CANNOT BE SERVED BY A FEDERAL OR MORE
COST EFFECTIVE STATE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; AND

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