WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                         Ch. 346

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 88A - Social Services Administration

131.

The General Assembly finds and declares that:

(1)     An increasing number of individuals AND FAMILIES in the State are
homeless and lack proper nutrition and adequate services;

(2)     Current State-operated programs do not adequately address these
problems; and

(3)     As a result, there is a lack Of quality emergency public and private
housing, nutrition, and service programs available for these individuals AND FAMILIES.

132.

(a)     In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b)     (1) "Homeless individual" means an individual who:

(i) Is in need of housing or emergency shelter and proper nutrition;

(ii) Cannot be placed immediately in other available housing,
nutrition, and service programs; and

(iii) Is a resident of the State at the time the application for housing is
made.

(2) "HOUSING CRISIS" MEANS A SITUATION INVOLVING A FAMILY OR
INDIVIDUAL WHO IS:

(I)      THREATENED WITH THE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF HOUSING OR
OTHER SHELTER;

(II)     WITHOUT RESOURCES TO MEET AN IMPENDING EVICTION; OR

(III)   OTHERWISE AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS.

[(2)] (3) "Shelter, nutrition, and service program" means facilities or
programs that offer and provide:

(I)       [services] SERVICES of food or shelter and may include linkage to
multiple service components, centralized decision making regarding placement, case
management, transportation, and follow-up services for homeless individuals AND
FAMILIES; AND

(II)     HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION SERVICES FOR FAMILIES AND
INDIVIDUALS IN A HOUSING CRISIS.

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