1. A. Program Purpose. The Housing Counselor and Aftercare Program assists families and individuals who are experiencing, or who are in imminent danger of, a housing crisis in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing.
2. B. Eligibility for Services. Clients for the Housing Counselor and Aftercare Program may include families or single adults. A client is eligible for housing counseling and aftercare services if the client is homeless or is experiencing or is in imminent danger of a housing crisis. In addition, a family applying for these services shall be receiving Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) or in the process of applying for TCA.

3. C. Delivery of Services.

   1. (1) A housing counselor shall assist family units with securing and maintaining permanent, affordable housing. Services to be provided may include the following:

      1. (a) Assisting the client with searching for and obtaining permanent, affordable housing;
      2. (b) Developing a comprehensive, current list of housing resources and expanding the list of housing resources to include new resources;
      3. (c) Establishing a working relationship and advocating for the client with landlords, property managers, realty companies, and other sources of low-income housing;
      4. (d) Working with a client's case manager, when applicable, to coordinate services to the client;
      5. (e) Assisting the client, as needed, with issues that contribute to chronic housing problems, such as budgeting and household management; and
      6. (f) Performing other duties as designated by the Department.

   2. (2) An aftercare case manager shall help family units maintain permanent, affordable housing. Services to be provided may include the following:

      1. (a) Assessing the needs of the client and developing a plan to meet the client's identified needs;
      2. (b) Referring the client to services based on the client's needs;
      3. (c) Monitoring the services provided to the client, and intervening with the service provider if the client has difficulty accessing the service;
      4. (d) Maintaining regular contact with the client for counseling, skills development, and crisis intervention; and
      5. (e) Performing other duties as designated by the Department.

4. D. Use of Funds.

   1. (1) Program funds may be used for:

      1. (a) Salary and FICA for housing counselors and aftercare case managers;
      2. (b) Client-related expenses; and
      3. (c) Other items as designated by the Department.

   2. (2) Client-related expenses include, but are not limited to:

      1. (a) First and final months' rent;
      2. (b) Transportation for housing searches;
      3. (c) Moving expenses;
      4. (d) Essential furnishings;
      5. (e) Storage;
      6. (f) Arrearages;
      7. (g) Credit checks and housing application fees;
      8. (h) Security deposits;
      9. (i) Utility deposits; and
      10. (j) Other identified needs.
   3. (3) The LAA shall provide funds for additional costs related to the Housing Counselor and Aftercare Program, and costs incurred in operating the program.

Authority: Human Services Article, §§6-417—6-427, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: December 2, 1985 (12:24 Md. R. 2346)

Chapter recodified from COMAR 07.02.21 to 07.06.09 and Regulations .01, .02, .04, .10, and .11 amended effective November 28, 1988 (15:24 Md. R. 2768)

Chapter revised effective January 31, 1994 (21:2 Md. R. 97)

Regulations .01—.16 repealed and new Regulations .01—.09 adopted effective March 27, 1995 (22:6 Md. R. 473)

Regulation .06B amended effective April 9, 2007 (34:7 Md. R. 697)

Regulation .08A amended effective August 5, 2002 (29:15 Md. R. 1141)

Regulation .08B amended effective January 15, 1996 (23:1 Md. R. 23)

Chapter recodified from COMAR 07.06.09 to COMAR 07.01.19 effective June, 2009