(a) As used in this section:
(1) “Eligible households” means persons or families who are affected by psychiatric disabilities or substance use disorder, or both, and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness;
(2) “Homeless or at risk of homelessness” means (A) living on the streets or in shelters, (B) coming out of homeless programs or transitional housing and having no permanent housing, (C) living in unsafe or abusive environments, (D) paying more than fifty per cent of income for rent, (E) living in overcrowded conditions, or (F) being in need of supportive services in order to maintain permanent housing; and
(3) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
(b) The commissioner shall implement and administer a program to provide grants-in-aid to nonprofit corporations for the purpose of providing support services to eligible households. Such services shall be designed to enable residents of eligible households to (1) obtain and keep permanent housing, (2) increase their job skills and income, and (3) achieve greater self-determination.
(c) The commissioner shall leverage funding from private and federal funding sources in providing grants-in-aid for support services under this section.
(d) The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to carry out the provisions of this section.
(P.A. 00-216, S. 12, 28; P.A. 09-145, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 00-216 effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 09-145 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by replacing “chemical dependency” with “substance use disorder”.