Bill > S86

This bill aims to improve emergency housing assistance for children and families experiencing homelessness. Key provisions include: 1. Expanding eligibility for emergency housing assistance to families who have an immediate need, even if they have not spent a night in an undesignated sleeping accommodation. 2. Requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to offer shelter placement on the same business day a family requests emergency housing assistance, unless DHCD has specific information confirming the family's ineligibility. 3. Prohibiting DHCD from denying assistance based solely on the need for further eligibility verification, and requiring DHCD to access relevant data held by the Department of Transitional Assistance to determine eligibility. 4. Establishing an ombudsperson unit within the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development to advocate for and mediate between applicants/participants and DHCD for the emergency assistance and short-term housing transition programs. 5. Requiring the ombudsperson unit to annually report on the requests received, their nature, and their resolution, as well as oversight hearings by legislative committees.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S86