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Housing First Program Administrative Responsibility Rule
14-118 CMR Ch 20 Housing First Rule | 14-118 CMR Ch 20 Fact Sheet
Concise Summary:
The rule sets forth the responsibilities of the State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services and Maine State Housing Authority and their joint responsibilities in administering the State of Maine’s Housing First Program. The Housing First Program provides funding for support and stabilization services for residents of properties in the State of Maine that provide permanent housing for persons who are experiencing chronic homelessness.
The Department is responsible for administering the funding under the Program. The funding is primarily for 24-hour on-site supportive services, except for an annual amount that is set aside for housing stability services available for residents at least 20 hours each week but not necessarily on site or 24 hours per day. Any funding that is not used for these supportive services and the Department’s costs of administering the Program will be transferred to MaineHousing to develop affordable permanent housing with 24-hour on-site supportive services, which initially will be the majority of the funding to produce the housing where these services will be provided.
The Department is also responsible for establishing and administering the requirements for the two types of supportive services that are eligible for funding under the Program, the payment models for the services, and the qualifications of the providers of the services. The Department is obligated to maximize eligibility for reimbursement under existing and future federal programs that provide funding for the supportive services, such as MaineCare, to supplement and expand the use of the funding and to provide technical assistance to providers in navigating these federal programs.
MaineHousing will work with the Department to administer the permanent housing with 24-hour on-site services. The Department and MaineHousing will identify the areas in the State where the properties should be located to best serve persons who are chronically homeless. The funding under the Program will only be available to teams that are selected under one or more competitive processes and consist of a service provider that the Department has determined is qualified through its procurement process together with an experienced affordable housing developer and property manager that MaineHousing, in consultation with the Department as needed, determines can work together to successfully develop, own and operate permanent housing with 24-hour on-site services for persons who are chronically homeless. MaineHousing will provide technical assistance, approve specific sites, develop construction standards to ensure successful operation and delivery of services at the properties, and offer financing for the development of the properties, including Program funding transferred to MaineHousing, other capital funding, and low-income housing tax credits.
The rule delegates oversight of the service providers to the Department, but the Department and MaineHousing will work together to develop, administer, and enforce the operational guidelines for the permanent housing with 24-hour on-site supportive services to effectively address chronic homelessness and ensure long-term viability of these properties. The rule also addresses other administrative responsibilities of the Department and MaineHousing, including recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
Submit Comments Rule Posted: October 30, 2024 | Comment Period: 11/19/24-12/2/24