2509.1 Based on the information received from the completed and signed application, an intake interview with the applicant, and the priority determination for shelter or supportive housing, the intake center shall make the appropriate initial referral.

2509.2 In making the appropriate initial referral, the intake center shall first consider, where appropriate, referral to services that are designed to prevent homelessness through case management, emergency rental assistance, or other programs designed to stabilize or re-establish families in non-shelter housing.

2509.3 Referrals for shelter or supportive housing shall be made based on the chronological order in which the family applied for assistance, an applicant's priority determination pursuant to section 2508, and the following relevant factors:

(a) Housing unit availability, including:

(1) Availability of units;

(2) Size of available units;

(3) Affordability of units; and

(4) Expected wait time of a program's specific wait list;

(b) The family's ability to meet additional eligibility requirements of particular programs and Providers;

(c) Input from the family in development of appropriate referrals received during intake and assessment;

(d) Reunification considerations for families with children removed by the Child and Family Services Agency; and

(e) Other relevant factors that affect a family's vulnerability.

2509.4 For purposes of this section, the date and time used for determining "chronological order" shall be the date and time the intake center received the applicant's most recent signed application. The intake center staff shall document receipt of the signed application by date and time stamping or manually recording the date and time the signed application is received by the intake center.

2509.5 The intake center shall provide written notice to the client of the initial appropriate referral.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 39 DCR 470, 484 (January 24, 1992); as amended by Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking published at 57 DCR 6438 (July 23, 2010)[EXPIRED]; as amended by Notice Emergency Rulemaking published at 57 DCR 11353 (November 26, 2010)[EXPIRED]; as amended by Notice of Emergency Rulemaking published at 58 DCR 3007 (April 8, 2011)[EXPIRED]; as amended by Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 58 DCR 7442, 7449 (August 19, 2011).