IC 12-20-17
    Chapter 17. Temporary Aid

IC 12-20-17-1
Investigations; temporary aid necessity
    Sec. 1. If a township trustee determines by investigation that atownship assistance applicant or a township assistance applicant'shousehold requires assistance, the township trustee shall, afterdetermining that an emergency exists, furnish to the applicant orhousehold the temporary aid necessary for the relief of immediatesuffering. However, before any further final or permanent relief isgiven, the township trustee shall consider whether the applicant's orhousehold's need can be relieved by means other than an expenditureof township money.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.51-1996, SEC.63;P.L.73-2005, SEC.81.

IC 12-20-17-2
Shelter; expenditure limitations; combination of resources;referral to appropriate agency; ability to contract with privateagency
    Sec. 2. (a) As used in this section, "shelter" means a facility thatprovides temporary emergency assistance.
    (b) A township trustee may establish, purchase, acquire, maintain,or operate a shelter for eligible township assistance householdsneeding temporary housing assistance.
    (c) A township having a population of less than eight thousand(8,000) may not expend more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) toimplement this section without the approval of the county executive.
    (d) A township having a population of at least eight thousand(8,000) may not expend more than one hundred thousand dollars($100,000) to implement this section without the approval of thecounty executive.
    (e) In counties where the implementation of this section can bemore efficiently and expeditiously handled in units larger than asingle township, a township trustee may combine resources withother townships within a county to:
        (1) establish one (1) or more household shelter units; and
        (2) pay a pro rata share of all administrative and other costsincidental to the maintenance and operation of each shelter unitestablished in subdivision (1).
IC 36-1-7-1 through IC 36-1-7-4 apply to a township electing tocombine its resources with other townships under this subsection.
    (f) A township trustee is not required to provide shelter to anindividual who at the time assistance is requested is:
        (1) under the influence of drugs or alcohol; or
        (2) incapable of self-care.
The township trustee may at no cost to the township refer anindividual described in this subsection to an appropriate agency orfacility located in the county or in an adjoining county that has a

program or charter specifically addressing the problems of substanceabuse, mental illness, or self-care.
    (g) A township trustee may contract with a private agencyoffering a shelter program in order to comply with this section if theapplicant or the applicant's household is not mandated by the privateagency to participate, as a condition of eligibility, in religiousservices.
    (h) A township trustee is not obligated to:
        (1) enter into a contract with; or
        (2) pay shelter costs to;
a shelter that is supported by federal or state funds.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.51-1996, SEC.64;P.L.73-2005, SEC.82.

IC 12-20-17-3
Temporary relief to sick and needy persons
    Sec. 3. Upon complaint that an individual within the township is:
        (1) sick;
        (2) in need;
        (3) without necessary financial resources; and
        (4) likely to suffer;
the township trustee, as administrator of township assistance, shallinvestigate and grant the temporary relief required.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.51-1996, SEC.65;P.L.73-2005, SEC.83.

IC 12-20-17-4
Nonresidents; temporary county home commitment
    Sec. 4. If an individual who is determined to be eligible fortownship assistance and entitled to temporary relief is in a townshipin which the individual does not have legal residence, the townshiptrustee, as administrator of township assistance, may, if the trusteeconsiders advisable, place the individual temporarily in the countyhome, if any, where the individual, if capable, is to be employed.
As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.51-1996, SEC.66;P.L.73-2005, SEC.84.