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An Act To End Homelessness by Expanding Housing Support Services
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  30-A MRSA c. 201, sub-c. 3-C  is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 3-C
HOUSING FIRST ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
§ 4766. Housing First Assistance Program
 
1.  Establishment; purpose.     The Housing First Assistance Program, referred to in this subchapter as "the program," is established under the jurisdiction of the Maine State Housing Authority, referred to in this subchapter as "the authority," to provide permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness in those areas of the State where the need is greatest and to homeless individuals addicted to opiates.
 
2.  Requirements.     The authority shall coordinate with emergency shelters, street outreach providers and other crisis responders in those areas the authority determines have the largest population of chronically homeless individuals and families in order to provide those persons with permanent housing through the program. The program must meet the core elements for a Housing First program as delineated by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, or a successor organization, including, but not limited to, the following.
 
A.  The program may not exclude applicants from participation in the program based solely on:
 
(1) Low income or a lack of income or income source;
 
(2) A poor credit or financial history;
 
(3) A poor rental history or lack of a rental history;
 
(4) Abuse of drugs or alcohol or a failure to participate in or complete a substance abuse program or similar behavior modification program;
 
(5) A criminal record; or
 
(6) Other behavior that indicates a lack of readiness for housing.
 
B.  The program must provide support services for drug and alcohol addiction as a resource to participants. Participation in the services must be voluntary and not a condition of acceptance into the program or continued residency.
 
C.  Conditions and terms for payment of rent must be reasonably flexible and allow for the use of individualized payment arrangements and financial assistance.
 
D.  Eviction from the program, if such eviction would result in a participant's homelessness, must be avoided when possible.
 
3.  Administration; operation by outside entity; grants; costs.     The authority shall administer the program. The authority may contract with entities not in State Government to provide housing under the program and award grants to such entities under a competitive bid process. The authority may use a portion of the funding provided for the program for the administrative costs of the authority.
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
HOUSING AUTHORITY, MAINE STATE
 
Housing First Assistance Program N232
 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funding to establish and provide 24-hour housing support services for 30 units at a "Housing First" development for chronically homeless individuals and families. Funds may be awarded to entities not in State Government through a competitive bid process.

GENERAL FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$675,000	$675,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$675,000	$675,000	

SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Housing First Assistance Program. The program is established in and administered by the Maine State Housing Authority. The authority is required to work with emergency shelters and other crisis responders in the neediest areas of the State to provide permanent housing and support services for chronically homeless individuals and families and to homeless individuals addicted to opiates. The program must meet the core elements for a "Housing First" program as delineated by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, including not disqualifying or evicting a resident due to alcohol or substance abuse, a criminal record, poor financial history or lack of an income. The authority may contract with outside entities to operate the housing units and award grants to those entities under a competitive bid process.
This bill provides ongoing funding necessary to fund 30 housing units and provide support services at those units for chronically homeless individuals including opiate-addicted homeless individuals.