Bill > S1006

This bill creates the Home Works Program, a state-funded initiative designed to support children aged 5-14 who are residing in Emergency Assistance housing programs. The program will provide funding for out-of-school time and summer programs, allowing youth-serving organizations, school systems, and municipalities to apply for program slots that cover programming and transportation costs at least 75% of local market value. Eligible programs must meet specific transportation requirements, ensuring participants can be safely transported to and from the program, and must conduct comprehensive criminal background checks, including checks of the National Sexual Offender Registry, for all staff members working directly with children. The Department of Housing and Community Development will manage the program, maintain a waitlist of eligible participants, and allocate slots proportionally based on areas with the highest number of children in Emergency Assistance housing. Importantly, the program will be funded separately from existing Emergency Assistance program funds, and the Department is required to develop regulations within six months of the bill's passage. The goal is to provide structured, safe, and enriching activities for children living in emergency housing situations.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1006