Specifications include, but are not limited to: The minimum, required services that must be provided include: • Client support services including: o Case management: Each household should be assigned a case manager who will work with the household on identified goals related to housing and income. o Housing Stabilization Services: Each household should be assisted in locating and applying for permanent housing, through use of in house resources or in collaboration with community based services. o Transition Planning: Staff are required to develop a transition plan with each participant. Households not exiting to permanent housing should be provided with information and referrals to other resources, along with a warm-handoff as appropriate. • Provide directly or facilitate through warm hand-offs: o Connection to mainstream benefits such as SNAP, WIC, TANF, OHP, Veterans services, etc. o Connect individuals and households to other services and community supports such as substance use treatment; mental, physical, or behavioral health services; childcare; employment or education; legal services; credit repair and renter education services; etc. as needed o Community based resources for childcare services o SOAR certified staff to begin/continue application for SSI/SSDI as appropriate • Facilitate referral and warm hand offs to the following services: o Connect individuals and households to housing resources in the community, including emergency shelter, alternative shelter, and/or other short-term housing options. o Emergency services, in this instance, include crisis housing, drop-in centers, and emergency services available for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault o Assist families in ensuring children are enrolled in school and connected to appropriate services in the community including early childhood programming, Head Start, and McKinney-Vento Educational Services. o Facility must keep families together and have flexible living quarters to accommodate families of different sizes. • Follow Ups o 6 and 12 month follow ups must be completed for participants exiting to a permanent housing destination • Assistance Animals o Assistance (i.e. emotional support, service) animals must be allowed in shelter as a reasonable accommodation. The Service Provider may not prohibit assistance animals on the property. Assistance animals are not considered pets and no associated fees may be charged for an assistance animal. o Participants must maintain control of their assistance animal at all times. The assistance animal must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others and must comply with state and county animal control laws. Service Provider may ask that a participant provide documentation from a professional, documenting that the participant has a disability that results in one or more functional limitations. Service Provider may not ask about the nature or extent of the disability, or require medical records.
