The purpose of the Service Linked Housing Program is to provide funding for resident advocates who are employed by providers to link low-income residents of permanent housing to services and to help them remain in their housing. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “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: Is a nonprofit agency, an agency of local government, a public housing authority, or a for-profit organization in partnership with a nonprofit agency or local government, or both; and Contracts with the Department or an LAA to provide services under the program. “Resident” means a low-income individual or family living in permanent housing and participating in the Service Linked Housing Program. An individual or family is eligible to receive services from a resident advocate if the individual or family is low-income as defined in Regulation .02 of this chapter and is: Living in permanent housing; and Determined by the provider to be in need of services in order to remain in the housing. A provider may not require a resident to participate in religious activities as a condition of receiving services. An applicant may apply in person directly to the provider or LAA, and shall complete the application form required by the provider or LAA. The provider or LAA shall: 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. If the Department provides an application form, the provider or LAA shall use the application form prepared by the Department or a form which includes, at a minimum, the same information as the Department's form. The provider or LAA shall assess the application and determine eligibility. If the applicant is eligible, the provider or LAA shall explain to the applicant the: 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. The resident advocate shall help the resident locate and obtain services and facilitate the resident's participation in the surrounding community. The resident advocate shall provide services such as the following: 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 LAA or provider shall use Program funds for: 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. The LAA or provider may not use Program funds for direct rental assistance to tenants or capital costs. The LAA or provider shall provide funds for additional costs related to the Service Linked Housing Program. Appeal From LAA Decision. 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: At the time of application; and Whenever the LAA notifies an applicant or recipient of any action which might deny, suspend, reduce, or terminate service. 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. Grievance Procedure. 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: At the time of application; and Whenever the provider notifies an applicant or recipient of any action which might deny, suspend, reduce, or terminate service. The grievance procedure includes: A notice of the grievance rights and the steps to take to initiate the grievance process; An opportunity to be heard; and A written decision by the local program director or designee that: Affirms or reverses the provider's action, and Includes the basis for the decision. 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. Discrimination. The provider is required to observe the antidiscrimination policy in COMAR 07.01.03. The Department shall provide to the LAA the forms necessary to carry out the program. The LAA shall transmit to providers the forms that are applicable to the providers. The LAA shall make reports required by the Department. Human Services Article, §§6-417—6-427, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: January 15, 1996 (23:1 Md. R. 23) Regulation .07A amended effective August 5, 2002 (29:15 Md. R. 1141) Recodified from COMAR 07.06.18 to COMAR 07.01.18 effective June, 2009