Chapter 18. Service Linked Housing Program

“Department” means the Department of Human Services.

“Local administering agency (LAA)” means the agency designated by the Department or local government to manage the program in a particular subdivision, and to provide a service directly or by contract with the provider.

“Low-income individual or family” means an individual or one or more adults and children living together as a family whose income does not exceed 50 percent of the area median income.

“Provider” means a local agency that:

“Resident” means a low-income individual or family living in permanent housing and participating in the Service Linked Housing Program.

Living in permanent housing; and

Determined by the provider to be in need of services in order to remain in the housing.

Explain to the applicant the services available;

If resources are available, give the applicant an opportunity to complete an application form and, if needed, assist the applicant in completing the form; and

Give the applicant written notice of the right to and method for obtaining a fair hearing or grievance procedure.

Amount and types of services to be provided;

Location where the service is provided;

Rules or conditions of the program where the service is provided; and

Right to and method for obtaining a fair hearing or grievance procedure.

Interacting regularly with the resident and identifying the resident's special needs;

Helping the resident develop interpersonal skills and support networks;

Linking the resident with health, mental health, and addiction services, and with education and employment opportunities, or with any other service identified as needed;

Helping the resident to apply for benefits and to use food programs or other programs identified as needed; and

Scheduling workshops with community resources on topics such as financial planning, budgeting, literacy, computer skills, and parenting skills.

The resident advocate's salary, FICA, unemployment insurance, and benefits such as health insurance and vacation;

Start-up costs for new projects as approved by the Department; and

Other items as designated by the Department.

If the LAA is also the provider, the LAA shall give written notification of the right to and the procedures for requesting and obtaining an administrative hearing to each applicant or recipient of the Program services:

The procedures for an administrative hearing are set forth in COMAR 07.01.04.

An applicant or recipient of services is not entitled to Program services while an appeal is pending.

The LAA shall forward to the Department a summary of each decision rendered, including findings of fact for each administrative hearing.

If the provider is a private, nonprofit agency, a for-profit agency, or an entity of local government which is not the LAA, the provider shall give written notification of the right to file a grievance and a procedure by which the grievance may be heard to each applicant or recipient of the Program services:

The grievance procedure includes:

The provider shall forward to the Department and to the LAA a summary of each decision rendered, including findings of fact concerning each grievance heard.