Ch. 346                                     1993 LAWS OF MARYLAND

CHAPTER 346
(House Bill 1015)

AN ACT concerning

Homelessness Prevention Program

FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Human Resources to establish a
homelessness prevention program to assist families and individuals in a housing
crisis; altering the purpose of the shelter, nutrition, and service program to include
services to prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless; specifying the
types of services that the homelessness prevention program may offer; requiring the
Department to establish a housing counselor and aftercare program for a certain
purpose; requiring the Department to submit a certain report to certain persons;
defining certain terms; and generally relating to preventing families and individuals
. from becoming homeless.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article 88A - Social Services Administration
Section 131, 132, 133, 136, and 137
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1991 Replacement Volume and 1992 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, Homelessness continues to be a devastating problem for thousands
of individuals and families in Maryland and the community of which they belong; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Human Resources reports that in fiscal year
1992, almost 50,000 people were served in shelters in Maryland; and

WHEREAS, Data shows that 40 percent of the homeless that are being served in
shelters throughout Maryland are families and 1/4 to 1/3 include children under the age of
18; and

WHEREAS, Current resources are inadequate to meet the immediate needs of
people in a housing crisis; and

WHEREAS, In 1992, individuals were turned away from a shelter over 43,000
times in Maryland; and

WHEREAS, In fiscal year 1992, in Maryland, over 21,000 households were evicted
from their homes; and

WHEREAS, There are proven and effective programs that help prevent families
and individuals from becoming homeless and help those in shelters relocate into
permanent housing; and

WHEREAS, National studies show that preventing citizens from becoming
homeless is cost-effective, saving $5 for every $1 spent on prevention; now, therefore,

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