Title 4, Public Care Systems.

(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 risk of ho…

(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 risk of homelessness; (2) Is a resident of the District, as defined by § 4-751.01(32), except that low-barrier shelters and severe weather s…

An individual or family seeking shelter during severe weather conditions may be afforded a 3-day grace period from the date of application to demonstrate District residency.

(a) All permanent supportive housing assistance or placements funded exclusively with non-federal funds shall be awarded to appropriate homeless individuals or families by the Department according to the District's centralized or coordinated assessment system protocol. (b) Each p…

(a)(1) To qualify for emergency rental assistance funds made available pursuant to this section ("Emergency Rental Assistance Funds"), an applicant unit shall be required to meet only the following eligibility criteria: (A) Be living in the District of Columbia at the time of app…

(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…

*NOTE: This section includes amendments by emergency legislation that will expire on November 8, 2026. To view the text of this section after the expiration of all emergency and temporary legislation, click this link: Permanent Version.* (a) Clients served within the Continuum of…

Clients residing in temporary shelter or transitional 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…

Clients residing in permanent housing provided through a permanent housing program shall have the right to: (a)(1) Receive visitors in their own housing unit or, if applicable, in the common area designated for such purposes, in accordance with their lease or occupancy agreement;…

(a) Clients receiving services within the Continuum of Care shall: (1) Seek appropriate permanent housing according to the Program Rules established by a provider pursuant to § 4-754.32, except when the client is residing in severe weather and low barrier shelter; (2) Seek employ…

*NOTE: This section includes amendments by emergency legislation that will expire on November 8, 2026. To view the text of this section after the expiration of all emergency and temporary legislation, click this link: Permanent Version.* Providers shall: (1) Ensure staff members …

All service provider employees, including intake workers, shall be trained in trauma-informed care, civil rights and other legal compliance, conflict resolution, and cultural competence, including, with regard to the LGBTQ population, the following: (1) Vocabulary and best practi…

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, transitional housing, and permanent housing programs shall provide: (1) Assessment by an appropriately trained, qualified, and supervised case manager in order to identify each…

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, transitional housing, or permanent housing programs 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 fo…

(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 a written copy 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 permanent supportive housing 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 …

(a) Each client shall be exited from a Rapid Re-Housing program at the end of the time limit for services under the program. The time limit for assistance under the program shall be established by the Mayor by rule, but shall not be shorter than 12 months. (b) The Mayor may exten…

(a) A provider may exit a client from a housing program only when: (1) The housing program is provided on a time-limited basis, and the client's time period for receiving services has run out; or (2) Pursuant to § 4-753.02(b-1), the Mayor determines that the client is no longer e…

(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 transfer, suspend, or terminate the client within 24…

(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 a Shelter Monitoring Unit to monitor shelters and services provided by the District and its contractors to clients who are homeless.

(a) The Shelter Monitoring Unit ("Unit") shall monitor the conditions, services, and practices at shelters, evaluating the following, to the extent applicable: (1) Health, safety, and cleanliness of shelters; (2) Existence of, content of, and notice to clients of policies, practi…

(a) The Shelter Monitoring Unit ("Unit") shall issue reports summarizing the findings of each inspection or investigation it conducts. (b) The Unit shall make available, upon request, each report issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to the provider, the Mayor, and th…

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

No person shall retaliate against a person who brings a complaint or provides information to the Shelter Monitoring Unit ("Unit") relevant to the performance of its duties. The Unit shall report any violation of this section to the Interagency Council and the Office of the Inspec…

The Shelter Monitoring Unit, with the approval of the Mayor, shall adopt an annual monitoring strategy, which shall include policies and procedures for inspections, procedures for identifying and curing deficiencies, and procedures for taking enforcement actions against providers…

(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) A medical respite service provider's decision to terminate, suspend, or transfer a client receiving medical respite services because the client no longer requires such services shall be based on the determination of a licensed medical professional. (b) Before transferring, su…

(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…

*NOTE: This section will expire on September 30, 2027.* (a) The Department shall establish a Flexible Rent Subsidy Pilot Program ("Program") to subsidize the cost of monthly rent for individuals and families receiving, or eligible to receive, Continuum of Care services. (b) The D…