Title 4 — Public Care Systems.

For the purposes of this chapter, the term: (1) “Administrative Procedure Act” or “APA” means Chapter 5 of Title 2. (2) “Adult” means any individual who: (A) Has reached the age of majority under District law as defined in § 46-101; or (B) Qualifies as an emancipated minor under …

(a) There is established in the District the Interagency Council on Homelessness for the purpose of facilitating interagency, cabinet-level leadership in planning, policymaking, program development, provider monitoring, and budgeting for the Continuum of Care of homeless services…

(a) The Interagency Council shall provide leadership in the development of strategies and policies that guide the implementation of the District’s policies and programs for meeting the needs of individuals and families who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. (b…

(a) No later than 300 days after February 26, 2015, the Interagency Council, working jointly with organizations providing service to homeless youth within the Continuum of Care as well as homeless or formerly homeless youth and their advocates, shall prepare, publish, and submit …

(a) The Interagency Council shall meet not less than quarterly. All meetings of the Interagency Council shall comply with the following requirements: (1) A quorum of one-third of the appointed representatives of member agencies, one-third of appointed representatives of providers…

(a) The District’s provision of homeless services shall be based on a Continuum of Care that offers a comprehensive range of services through various member agencies and is designed to meet the specific, assessed needs of individuals and families who are homeless or at imminent r…

(a) There is established as a nonlapsing fund the Housing First Fund (“Fund”), which shall be used to provide vulnerable families and individuals who are homeless with supportive services and housing assistance. The Fund shall be administered by the Department of Human Services i…

(a) An individual or family is eligible to receive services within the Continuum of Care if the individual or family: (1) Is homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless; (2) Is a resident of the District, as defined by § 4-751.01(32), except that low-barrier shelters and se…

An individual or family seeking shelter during severe weather conditions may be afforded a 3-day grace period to establish District residency.

(a)(1) Beginning in June 2012, the Department shall identify at least 200 homeless families from hotels, motels, severe-weather shelters, temporary shelters, or transitional housing, and ensure that at least 100 of these families are placed in or are residing in apartment-style h…

(a) When funds that have been allocated for tenant-based assistance under § 6-228 are made available because a family that has been receiving tenant-based assistance no longer requires or has become ineligible for the assistance, the Mayor and the District of Columbia Housing Aut…

(a) All permanent supportive housing placements funded exclusively with non-federal funds shall be filled by appropriate homeless individuals or families as identified by the Department. (b) Each permanent supportive housing placement shall be filled no later than 60 days after t…

Notwithstanding § 4-753.05, during Fiscal Year 2015, the District of Columbia Housing Authority shall fill 75 tenant-based Rent Supplement Program vouchers, established by § 6-228, through referrals by the Department of Human Services. The referrals shall be based on special elig…

(a) The provisions in this subchapter shall apply to: (1) Each program within the Continuum of Care offered by the District of Columbia or by a provider receiving funding for the program from either the District of Columbia or the federal government, if such funds are administere…

(a) Clients served within the Continuum of Care shall have the right to: (1) At all times, be treated by providers and the Department with dignity and respect; (2) Access services within the Continuum of Care free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, nationa…

Clients residing in temporary shelter or supportive housing shall have the right to: (1) Receive visitors in designated areas of the shelter or housing premises during reasonable hours and under such reasonable conditions as specified in the provider’s Program Rules established p…

(a) Clients receiving services within the Continuum of Care shall: (1) Seek appropriate permanent housing or Housing First, except when the client is residing in severe weather and low barrier shelter; (2) Seek employment, education, or training when appropriate, except when the …

Providers shall: (1) Ensure staff members are appropriately trained, qualified, and supervised; (2) Maintain safe, clean, and sanitary facilities that meet all applicable District health, sanitation, fire, building, and zoning codes; (3) Assist clients to prepare for living in pe…

All homeless service workers, including intake workers, shall be trained in cultural competence, including, with regard to the LGBTQ population, the following: (1) Vocabulary and best practices for data collection, privacy, storage, and use; (2) Current social science research an…

In addition to the standards in § 4-754.21, providers of severe weather shelter shall provide: (1) When severe weather conditions continue overnight, a clean bed with clean linens, pad, and blanket for each bed; (2) Basic needs, such as food and clothing and other supportive serv…

In addition to the requirements in §§ 4-754.21 and 4-754.22, providers of low barrier shelter shall provide: (1) Case management services with an appropriately trained, qualified, and supervised case manager, which shall include the development of a service plan; (2) Hot shower f…

In addition to the requirements in §§ 4-754.21, 4-754.22, and 4-754.23, providers of temporary shelter and supportive housing shall provide: (1) Assessment by an appropriately trained, qualified, and supervised case manager in order to identify each client’s service needs; (2) Di…

In addition to the requirements of §§ 4-754.21, 4-754.22, 4-754.23, and 4-754.24, all providers of transitional housing shall provide: (1) Follow-up supportive services, for a minimum of 6 months, for clients who have transferred to permanent housing from their program, unless th…

Providers of shelter or supportive housing for LGBTQ homeless youth shall implement research-based family acceptance interventions that are designed to educate families on the impact of rejection towards their LGBTQ children and negative outcomes for LGBTQ youth associated with r…

(a) The Mayor shall monitor and evaluate the services delivered by all programs covered by § 4-754.01. (b) The Mayor shall inspect the premises of all providers operating programs covered by § 4-754.01. Except for inspections of shelters monitored by the Office of Shelter Monitor…

(a) Pursuant to the limitations of subsections (b) and (c) of this section, providers may establish Program Rules related to the specific goals of their programs. The Program Rules shall include: (1) Any applicable special eligibility requirements for the purpose of limiting entr…

(a)(1) All providers shall give prompt and effective notice of their Program Rules by: (A) Posting a copy of their Program Rules on the provider’s premises in a location easily accessible to clients and visitors; and (B) Giving every new client written notice of the provider’s Pr…

(a) A provider may transfer a client to another provider to ensure the client receives the most appropriate services available within the Continuum of Care whenever: (1) The client consents to the transfer; (2) The provider identifies and secures for the client a placement with a…

(a) If a client fails or refuses to comply with the provider’s Program Rules and the client responsibilities listed in § 4-754.13, or engages in any of the behaviors listed in § 4-754.36(2), the provider may suspend services to the client for an appropriate period of time in ligh…

(a) A provider may terminate its delivery of services to a client only when: (1) The provider documents that it has considered suspending the client in accordance with § 4-754.35 or has made a reasonable effort, in light of the severity of the act or acts leading to the terminati…

(a) A provider may discontinue supportive housing services for a client only when the client has: (1) Relocated to another program or facility for more than 180 days; (2) Abandoned his or her unit for more than 60 days and good-faith efforts to locate the client have failed, or t…

(a) A provider may employ lesser sanctions as alternatives to the transfer, suspension, or termination of services authorized in §§ 4-754.34 through 4-754.36. (b) Any alternative sanction applied shall be authorized in the schedule of sanctions included in the provider’s Program …

(a) Whenever a client presents an imminent threat to the health or safety of the client or any other person on a provider’s premises, the provider, in light of the severity of the act or acts leading to the imminent threat, may immediately transfer, suspend, or terminate the clie…

(a) Providers are strongly encouraged to establish internal mediation programs to resolve disputes with clients. (b) Any provider who chooses to establish an internal mediation program shall offer mediation services to any client of the provider, or the client’s representative, w…

(a) The Office of Administrative Hearings shall grant a fair hearing to any client or client representative who wishes to appeal a decision listed in subsection (b) of this section and who requests such a hearing, orally or in writing, within 90 days of receiving written notice o…

(a) The purpose of the administrative review shall be to enable the Department to ascertain the legal validity of the decision that is the subject of the fair hearing request, and, if possible, achieve an informal resolution of the appeal. (b) Any administrative review conducted …

There is established within the Department of Human Services an Office of Shelter Monitoring to monitor shelters and services provided by the District and its contractors to clients who are homeless.

(a) The Office shall monitor the conditions, services, and practices at shelters, evaluating the following, to the extent applicable: (1) Health, safety, and cleanliness of shelters; (2) Policies, practices, and program rules; (3) Accessibility of shelters to clients with disabil…

(a) The Office shall issue reports summarizing the findings of each inspection or investigation it conducts. (b) The Office shall make available, upon request, each report issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to the provider, the Mayor, and all members of the Interag…

(a) Employees of the Office shall agree in writing to comply with all applicable confidentiality requirements in accordance with their official duties. (b) The Office shall train its employees, as appropriate, in compliance with applicable confidentiality restrictions, in homeles…

No person shall retaliate against a person who brings a complaint or provides information to the Office relevant to the performance of its duties. The Office shall report any violation of this section to the Interagency Council and the Office of the Inspector General.

The Mayor, pursuant to § 4-756.02 and in consultation with the Interagency Council, shall set forth the policies and procedures for inspections, procedures for identifying and curing deficiencies, and procedures for taking enforcement actions against providers in violation of the…

(a) No provision of this chapter shall be construed to create an entitlement (either direct or implied) on the part of any individual or family to any services within the Continuum of Care, other than shelter in severe weather conditions as authorized by § 4-754.11(5). (b) No pro…

(a) No public funds shall be used for payment of goods or services from any vendor or organization that engages in discriminatory practices. (b) No District funds shall be used to support the delivery of services that are not authorized by this chapter or by rules issued pursuant…

(a) The Mayor may execute contracts, grants, and agreements as necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter. (b) Pursuant to §§ 6-203(17) and 6-225, the Mayor, or his designee, shall have the authority to enter into an agreement with the District of Columbia Housing Auth…

(a) The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, may issue rules to implement the provisions of this chapter. The proposed rules shall be submitted to the Council for a 45-day period of review, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, legal holidays, and days of Council rece…

(a) The Mayor shall appoint a Director to End Homelessness (“Director”), pursuant to § 1-523.01(a). The Director shall report to the Mayor, and shall be highly qualified and experienced. The Mayor is encouraged to consult with the Interagency Council of Homelessness on the specif…

The Department, no later than February 1 of each year, shall provide a report to the Council of the District of Columbia and the Interagency Council on Homelessness that shall include the following information: (1) Number of families placed in an interim eligibility placement; (2…