46-139. Housing assistance
A. Notwithstanding any other provision in this title, the department may provide
special housing assistance in the form of vendor payments to achieve permanency for
children who are involved in open child protective services cases. The child's family
may qualify for this special housing assistance only if the lack of adequate housing is a
significant barrier preventing the child from being reunited with or being able to remain
with the child's family or other caretakers who will provide permanency for the
child. The amount of housing assistance provided by the department for each family for
an incident shall not exceed one thousand eight hundred dollars during a six month
period. The housing assistance may only be used for rent, utilities, deposits and
arrears. The department may provide housing assistance only if other resources are
unavailable.
B. The case plan for the child and family shall contain a reference to the lack of
adequate housing.
C. The case notes shall reflect barriers that the family faces in obtaining
adequate housing, a specific, time oriented plan for phasing out the need of the family
for continued housing assistance, the actions that are being taken by the family for
economic self-sufficiency and a complete financial picture of the family at the time of
application to the program, including housing related expenses and income, including
entitlements.
D. For the period a family is receiving housing assistance, the department shall
provide case management services that include monitoring the financial situation of the
family.
E. The department shall make the following information regarding the housing
assistance program available to the public on request and on the department's web site:
1. The number of children and families, by district, receiving services through
this program during the previous fiscal year.
2. The total amount of monies spent on the program by district.
3. A programmatic and fiscal evaluation of the effectiveness of this program which
includes the amount of monies saved by reducing foster care expenditures.
F. The department may adopt rules to carry out this section.
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