1. (1) Each social services district must provide a monthly allowance for rent in the amount actually paid, for cases with a verified rental obligation. For each social services district, the maximum allowance for each public assistance family size is in accordance with the following schedules:

   LOCAL AGENCY MAXIMUM MONTHLY SHELTER ALLOWANCE SCHEDULE WITH CHILDREN (children defined in sections 369.2[c] and 369.5[c] of this Title)

   LOCAL AGENCY MAXIMUM MONTHLY SHELTER ALLOWANCE SCHEDULE WITH CHILDREN

   (children defined in sections 369.2[c] and 369.5[c] of this Title)

   FAMILY SIZE	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8+
   Albany	214	219	309	348	386	404	421	421
   Allegany	190	220	273	308	342	358	373	373
   Broome	218	252	290	317	353	368	384	403
   Cattaraugus	186	208	269	303	337	352	367	367
   Cayuga	201	208	290	326	363	380	396	396
   Chautauqua	198	202	285	321	357	374	390	390
   Chemung	197	228	283	319	355	371	387	387
   Chenango	189	219	264	298	331	346	361	361
   Clinton	191	195	275	310	345	360	376	376
   Columbia	201	221	290	326	363	379	396	396
   Cortland	199	231	281	317	352	368	384	384
   Delaware	200	232	274	309	344	359	374	374
   Dutchess	286	292	412	464	516	540	563	563
   Erie	209	214	301	339	377	395	411	411
   Essex	199	231	268	302	336	351	366	368
   Franklin	180	191	259	292	325	339	354	354
   Fulton	189	193	272	307	341	357	372	372
   Genesee	204	234	294	332	369	386	402	402
   Greene	197	229	281	317	352	368	384	384
   Hamilton	185	189	267	301	335	350	365	365
   Herkimer	190	200	275	309	344	359	375	375
   Jefferson	200	232	276	311	346	362	377	377
   Lewis	193	197	279	314	349	365	381	381
   Livingston	213	217	307	346	384	402	419	419
   Madison	210	231	304	342	380	397	414	414
   Monroe	257	298	343	374	405	420	438	477
   Montgomery	196	200	283	319	354	370	386	386
   Nassau	308	334	445	501	558	583	608	608
   New York City	277	283	400	450	501	524	546	546
   Niagara	204	209	294	331	369	385	402	402
   Oneida	199	207	287	323	359	375	391	391
   Onondaga	210	235	303	341	379	397	413	413
   Ontario	213	240	308	347	386	403	421	421
   Orange	292	298	421	473	527	551	574	574
   Orleans	209	234	302	340	378	395	412	412
   Oswego	208	212	300	338	375	393	409	409
   Otsego	200	232	280	315	350	366	382	382
   Putnam	306	312	441	496	553	578	602	602
   Rensselaer	205	210	296	334	371	388	405	405
   Rockland	302	350	434	488	543	568	592	592
   St. Lawrence	194	211	281	316	351	368	383	383
   Saratoga	219	224	316	356	396	414	431	431
   Schenectady	216	226	311	351	390	408	425	425
   Schoharie	199	231	286	322	358	374	390	390
   Schuyler	194	224	275	310	345	360	376	376
   Seneca	204	237	288	324	360	376	392	392
   Steuben	188	192	271	305	339	354	370	370
   Suffolk	310	358	447	503	560	586	611	611
   Sullivan	211	244	297	335	372	389	406	406
   Tioga	201	233	285	321	357	373	390	390
   Tompkins	219	251	317	357	396	414	432	432
   Ulster	263	305	350	382	413	427	445	486
   Warren	215	250	299	337	375	392	408	408
   Washington	205	231	295	332	370	387	403	403
   Wayne	209	240	302	340	378	395	412	412
   Westchester	295	314	426	479	533	557	581	581
   Wyoming	199	231	279	314	349	365	381	381
   Yates	198	210	286	322	358	375	391	391
   LOCAL AGENCY MONTHLY SHELTER ALLOWANCE SCHEDULE WITHOUT CHILDREN
   (children defined in sections 369.2[c] and 369.5[c] of this Title)
   FAMILY SIZE	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8+
   Albany	184	213	245	267	289	299	311	341
   Allegany	190	220	253	276	299	309	321	352
   Broome	218	252	290	316	342	354	368	403
   Cattaraugus	179	208	239	261	282	292	304	332
   Cayuga	179	208	239	261	282	292	304	332
   Chautauqua	167	194	223	243	263	272	283	310
   Chemung	197	228	262	286	309	320	333	364
   Chenango	189	219	252	275	297	307	320	350
   Clinton	156	181	208	227	245	254	264	289
   Colombia	191	221	254	277	300	310	323	353
   Cortland	199	231	265	289	313	323	337	368
   Delaware	200	232	267	291	315	326	339	371
   Dutchess	216	251	288	314	340	351	366	400
   Erie	169	201	215	234	254	262	273	299
   Essex	199	231	265	289	313	323	337	368
   Franklin	161	191	212	239	250	259	269	295
   Fulton	159	184	212	231	250	259	269	295
   Genesee	202	234	269	293	317	328	342	374
   Greene	197	229	263	287	310	321	334	366
   Hamilton	159	184	212	231	250	259	271	296
   Herkimer	173	200	230	251	271	281	292	320
   Jefferson	200	232	267	291	315	326	339	371
   Lewis	152	177	203	221	240	248	258	282
   Livingston	187	217	249	271	294	304	316	346
   Madison	199	231	265	289	313	323	337	368
   Monroe	257	298	343	374	405	418	436	477
   Montgomery	158	184	211	230	249	257	268	293
   Nassau	288	334	384	419	453	468	527	561
   New York City	215	250	286	312	337	349	403	421
   Niagara	174	202	232	253	274	283	295	322
   Oneida	179	207	238	259	281	290	302	331
   Onondaga	203	235	270	294	319	329	343	375
   Ontario	207	240	276	301	326	337	351	384
   Orange	229	265	305	332	360	372	387	424
   Orleans	202	234	269	293	317	328	342	374
   Oswego	183	212	244	266	288	298	310	339
   Otsego	200	232	267	291	315	326	339	371
   Putnam	237	275	316	344	373	386	401	439
   Rensselaer	153	179	193	210	228	235	245	268
   Rockland	302	350	402	438	474	490	511	559
   St. Lawrence	182	211	242	264	286	295	307	336
   Saratoga	185	215	247	269	291	301	314	343
   Schenectady	195	226	260	283	307	317	330	361
   Schoharie	199	231	265	289	313	323	337	368
   Schuyler	194	224	258	281	304	315	328	359
   Seneca	204	237	272	296	321	332	345	378
   Steuben	159	184	212	231	250	259	269	295
   Suffolk	309	358	412	449	486	503	523	573
   Sullivan	211	244	281	306	332	343	357	391
   Tioga	201	233	268	292	316	327	340	373
   Tompkins	217	251	289	315	341	353	367	402
   Ulster	263	305	350	382	413	427	445	486
   Warren	215	250	287	313	339	350	364	399
   Washington	199	231	265	289	313	323	337	368
   Wayne	207	240	276	301	326	337	351	384
   Westchester	271	314	361	393	426	440	474	536
   Wyoming	199	231	265	289	313	323	337	368
   Yates	181	210	241	263	284	294	306	335

2. (2) Recipients in receipt of a court ordered shelter supplement, or a temporary shelter supplement pursuant to section 370.10 of this Title, at the time this paragraph is adopted and, who are otherwise eligible for public assistance will continue to receive that supplement, if higher than the shelter allowance set forth in paragraph (1) of this subdivision, for up to a two year period, provided that there is no break in assistance of more than one calendar month or that the family has not been sanctioned. After a two year period from the date this paragraph is adopted or upon a break in receipt of a court ordered supplement or a supplement under section 370.10 of this Title of more than one calendar month, applicants and recipients who were receiving a court ordered shelter supplement or a temporary shelter supplement pursuant to section 370.10 of this Title, must receive a shelter allowance pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subdivision, if otherwise eligible. The amount of the shelter supplement in excess of the shelter allowance maxima set forth in paragraph (1) of this subdivision is not part of the standard of need.

   1. (i) A social services district, with the approval of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, may provide additional monthly shelter supplements to public assistance applicants and recipients who will reside in private housing, or who currently reside in private housing and are facing eviction. Social services districts choosing to provide such supplements must submit a plan to the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, attention: Center for Employment and Economic Supports, prior to providing any such supplements. Plans submitted to the office must include: justification for providing the supplement(s), the targeted population, the amount of the supplement(s) and any additional information as required by the office. The supplement(s) must be a monthly amount that, when combined with the shelter allowance, does not exceed the rental obligation or home ownership shelter expenses of the applicant or recipient. The amount of the shelter supplement is not part of the standard of need.
   2. (ii) The office may authorize a social services district to provide such supplement or a distinct part of such supplement if it determines that the provision of such supplement would accomplish its stated purpose and is justified considering such factors as length of temporary housing stays, existing litigation and other factors affecting the availability of housing. The office must also consider the impact of granting the supplement on the economic incentives for self-sufficiency and the impact on low-income households which are not in receipt of public assistance. The office may authorize the supplement only if it determines that there are sufficient funds available to provide such reimbursement.

   (3)

3. (b) When the recipient is obligated to pay for water as a separate charge to a vendor, an allowance must be made for the additional amount required to be paid. When the recipient is obligated to pay for sewer, water (except when paid as a separate charge) and/or garbage disposal, an allowance must be made therefor to the extent that the total of the rent allowances plus such charge or charges does not exceed the appropriate maximum amount in the schedule in subdivision (a) of this section. For the purpose of this subdivision, the term separate charge refers to a billing made directly to a recipient in his or her name which is limited to charges for his or her utility service.

4. (c) [Reserved]

   1. (i) An allowance for rent must be made for recipients who are tenants of city, State or federally aided public housing up to the amount actually paid or the following schedule, whichever is less, except when a modified schedule of allowances is approved by this office for a specific housing authority and the modified schedule provides for larger allowances or when the housing authority calculates the rent based on a percentage of household income:

      1. (a) Effective August 15, 2007, public housing authorities may charge rent up to 50 percent of the shelter maximums found in subdivision (a) of this section.
      2. (b) Effective August 15, 2008, public housing authorities may charge rent up to 75 percent of the shelter maximum found in subdivision (a) of this section.
      3. (c) Effective August 15, 2009, public housing authorities may charge rent up to the shelter maximums found in subdivision (a) of this section.
   2. (ii) Modified schedule approved. When a modified schedule is approved by this office for a specific housing authority, the allowance for rent must be the amount actually paid up to the approved schedule amount. A housing authority may request, and the office may grant an increase not to exceed 10 percent in a 12-month period until the modified schedule for the housing authority reaches the maximum allowances for the district found in subdivision (a) of this section. Effective August 15, 2009, modified schedules approved by this office shall be void.

   3. (iii) Rent calculated based on a percentage of income. For any household for which the amount of rent is determined by a public housing authority as a percentage of either gross or adjusted gross income, the applicable shelter allowance is the amount so calculated up to the maximum allowance for the given household size found in subdivision (a) of this section.

      (2)

   4. (i) Subsidized housing other than section 8 housing vouchers. The rent allowance for tenants of housing subsidized under a housing assistance payments program, except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, is the amount of rent actually paid (exclusive of the subsidy) but not more than the amount in the applicable schedule in subdivisions (a) and (b) of this section.

   5. (ii) Section 8 Voucher Program.

      1. (a) The rent for recipients whose rental housing payments are subsidized under the Section 8 Voucher Program (not including a recipient participating in the program of special allowances for owners of manufactured homes) shall be the amount actually paid, but not in excess of the amount (rounded to the nearest whole dollar) equal to 30 percent of the applicable standard of need by family size and district of residence, considering only the SA-2a, SA-2b, SA-2c schedules contained in section 352.2(d) of this Part, and the local agency monthly shelter allowance schedule with children, exclusive of any supplement. For the purpose of this subparagraph, the allowance amounts are those in office regulation and in effect on the filing date of this subparagraph.
      2. (b) Clause (a) of this subparagraph shall not apply to recipients whose section 8 vouchers are provided by public housing authorities or other local section 8 voucher issuing agencies that routinely determined the tenants' share of the rent due and payable for months commencing on or before October 1, 2004 to be the local agency shelter maximums under subdivision (a) of this section.

      3. (c) The office shall develop an administrative process to certify whether clause (a) or (b) of this subparagraph shall apply to each individual public housing authority or other local section 8 voucher issuing agency.

         (e) Rent allowances for hotel/motel facilities.

         An allowance for shelter shall be made for recipients temporarily housed in hotel/motel facilities under the following circumstances:

   6. (1) No other suitable housing either public or private is available to house the recipient.
   7. (2) Hotel/motel accommodations without cooking facilities shall be utilized only when accommodations with such facilities are not available. An allowance for the actual cost of the rental of a refrigerator, not to exceed $10 per week per room, shall be made when a homeless family is temporarily placed in a hotel/motel which does not have cooking facilities and which provides a refrigerator on a rental basis.
   8. (3) The continued need for hotel/motel accommodations shall be reviewed, evaluated and authorized monthly by the social services district.

   (d) Public housing.

   (1)

5. (f) Reimbursement for shelter costs and restaurant allowances and rental fees for refrigerators as provided for in paragraph (e)(2) of this section is available to social services districts for expenditures made by such districts on behalf of recipients temporarily living in hotels or motels for so long as the recipients are actively seeking permanent housing, but in no event for a period in excess of six months unless the local commissioner of social services determines on an annual basis that housing other than hotels or motels or facilities regulated under Part 900 of this Title is not readily available in the social services district and the commissioner submits such determination to the department on an annual basis. Upon such a determination and submission, the social services district will continue to be reimbursed for shelter costs, restaurant allowances as appropriate and rental fees for refrigerators provided to public assistance recipients beyond such six- month period. A recipient's continued need for hotel/motel accommodations must be reviewed and evaluated monthly. The maximum reimbursable amount for shelter costs after August 1, 1984 is $16 per day for the first person in each hotel room, and $11 per day for the remaining occupants in each room. Restaurant allowances, if necessary must be provided in accordance with department regulations.

   1. (1) Primary consideration shall be given to the needs of children. Specific factors considered must include but shall not be limited to educational needs, security, the nature of the facility in which the children would be placed, and factors which will insure the minimum disruption of community ties.

   2. (2) The hotel/motel shall have appropriate contractual or other arrangements for maintenance, repair and sanitation in the hotel/motel. The hotel/motel must have available for review by the local social services district information verifying the above-mentioned arrangements or record of such. Such information would include, for example, contracts with private carters, bills, receipts, or other evidence of performance. Such arrangements shall include but not be limited to agreements for provision of the following services:

      1. (i) removal of garbage;
      2. (ii) maintenance of floor coverings, draperies and furniture;
      3. (iii) repainting of the facility at least once every five years;
      4. (iv) maintenance and inspection of the electrical system;
      5. (v) maintenance of plumbing and plumbing fixtures;
      6. (vi) maintenance and inspection of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems;
      7. (vii) a regular vermin control program; and
      8. (viii) provision to insure that entrances, exits, steps and walkways are kept clear of garbage, ice, snow and other hazards.
   3. (3) Rooms shall be cleaned at least every other day by hotel/motel staff.
   4. (4) Furniture necessary for daily living, including but not limited to tables, bureaus, chairs, beds and cribs shall be in each room.
   5. (5) No more than two adults shall be placed in the same room.
   6. (6) When children are placed in the same room as adults, there shall be sufficient beds so children shall not have to share single beds.
   7. (7) All mattresses and bedding material shall be clean. Each bed shall have at least two clean sheets, adequate clean blankets, clean pillows and pillowcases. A complete change of linens shall be made by hotel/motel staff at least once a week and more often where individual circumstances warrant or when a new family occupies the unit. Each unit shall be supplied with towels, soap and toilet tissues. A clean towel shall be provided daily to each resident.
   8. (8) Each unit must have operational door and window locks. All windows at and above the second floor must have window guards in place unless windows are sealed and the air conditioning works.
   9. (9) A heating system shall be permanently installed and operated in accordance with applicable local law. Where local law or code does not govern the provision of heat, the system will provide heat to maintain a temperature of 69°F (20°C) in all occupied parts of the building, including corridors. Where windows do not open, proper ventilation, including but not limited to air conditioning, shall be operational.

   10. (10) Each family with children must have a private bathroom. At a minimum, this must include a toilet, a sink and a shower or bathtub, all of which must be properly maintained with hot and cold running water. Couples without children may be placed in rooms with common bathroom facilities.

       (h) Inspection.

       Local social services districts which make hotel/motel referral must inspect at least once every six months the hotels/motels in which families are placed. In addition to verifying that the hotel/motel meets the requirements set forth in subdivision (g) of this section, the local district shall make appropriate inquiries to determine whether the hotel/motel is in compliance with all applicable State and local laws, regulations, codes and ordinances. Any violation found during the on-site inspection shall be reported to appropriate authorities. Further, each inspection shall at least review arrangements for hygiene, vermin control, security, furnishings, cleanliness and maintenance and shall include a review of any applicable documents pertaining to compliance with any local laws or codes. A written report shall be made of each such inspection and shall be maintained at the office of the local district together with such other information as the district may maintain concerning the families placed in the hotel/motel. A copy of any such inspection report shall be provided to the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance within 30 days of its completion.

       (i)

   11. (1) To the extent that units of housing are available and subject to department approval based upon the housing conditions in the region, and to the extent of State appropriations made expressly therefor, social services districts may provide an allowance to secure housing to any homeless family:

       1. (i) residing in a municipality having a rental vacancy rate for low-income housing less than three percent;
       2. (ii) for whom no housing can be located at a rent within the shelter maximum under this section; and
       3. (iii) in which at least one member of the family has resided in a hotel or motel and/or a shelter (including, but not limited to, facilities operated under Part 900 of this Title) at public expense for a period exceeding 12 weeks. Social services districts may consider decreasing this length of stay requirement if a long-term temporary placement in a hotel or motel or shelter would be detrimental to the health and welfare of families, including families with immediate medical needs.

   12. (2) In determining priority for placement in housing units for which an allowance is paid under this subdivision, the district must consider factors affecting need such as:

       1. (i) the length of stay in a hotel or motel and/or a shelter (including but not limited to, facilities operated under Part 900 of this Title) at public expense;
       2. (ii) the size of the family; and
       3. (iii) the location of schools in relation to the temporary housing where the family is residing.

   13. (3) Social services districts must submit to the department for approval annual plans for the operation of programs to make allowances available under this subdivision. Plans must be submitted within 45 days after funds have been authorized in the State budget for allowances for this program. Plans must:

       1. (i) indicate the number of units of housing for which the allowance will be made available pursuant to this subdivision, identifying the number that would be privately owned units and the number that would be publicly owned units, and the amount of funds being requested;
       2. (ii) describe the housing to be utilized;
       3. (iii) indicate the number of months that the allowance will be available (not to exceed eight months in the case of privately owned units or four months in the case of publicly owned units);
       4. (iv) set forth the procedures for assuring local housing code compliance;
       5. (v) set forth the procedures to identify those families likely to be long-term residents of hotels and motels and/or shelters (including, but not limited to, facilities operated under Part 900 of this Title);
       6. (vi) indicate the criteria to be used in determining priorities for placement;
       7. (vii) indicate the services available in the social services district to assist persons to remain in housing after placement under this program;
       8. (viii) indicate the number of homeless families in the social services district that requested emergency housing each month during the most recent 12-month period and the number of families that resided in hotels and motels and/or shelters during the most recent 12-month period; and
       9. (ix) indicate the number of months that the social services district will require participating landlords to make specified apartments available to selected families.
   14. (4) The allowance consists of a rent supplement in an amount to be determined by the social services district, with the prior approval of the department, but cannot exceed the difference between the maximum shelter allowance and the hotel/motel rate for the family. Social services districts must submit claims for State reimbursement for such allowances on forms and in the manner prescribed by the department.
   15. (5) No allowance will be paid under this subdivision for housing developed for the homeless financed partially or wholly with public funds.
   16. (6) No allowance under this subdivision will be paid unless the social services district documents that such allowance will not be used to replace funds previously used, or designated for use, to secure housing for homeless families.
   17. (7) No allowance provided under this subdivision will be paid for housing which does not comply with or which is not brought into substantial compliance with the local housing code or which has been occupied by a family receiving AFDC or home relief within one year prior to the payment of an allowance hereunder; provided, however, that such allowance may be held in escrow by the district pending correction of existing code violations. Moreover, no allowance will be paid unless the participating landlord agrees to make a specified apartment available to the selected family for a period of up to 32 months as approved by the department, except as provided herein. The landlord must agree that, in the event that a selected family does not remain for any reason in the specified apartment for the period for which it is to be available, the landlord will return a pro rata portion of the allowance reflecting the balance of the period. In such event, the district may provide an allowance with respect to a subsequently selected family for the balance of the period, provided further that such family meets the eligibility criteria set forth in this subdivision.
   18. (8) Allowances provided under this subdivision must be paid for a maximum period specified by the district and approved by the department.

   19. (9) Social services districts providing allowances under this subdivision must submit information on a monthly basis in a manner prescribed by the department, including but not limited to:

       1. (i) the number of units rented that were privately owned and the number of units rented that were publicly owned and the addresses of such units;
       2. (ii) the individual allowances issued; and
       3. (iii) the number of families leaving apartments funded with allowances under this subdivision.

   (g) Standards.

   No family shall be referred to a hotel/motel, nor shall any reimbursement be made for costs incurred from such referral unless all of the requirements set forth below are met:

6. (j) If rent has not been paid for the month in which the case is accepted, a non-prorated shelter allowance, not to exceed the appropriate local agency maximum monthly shelter allowance, must be provided to retain the living accommodation.

   1. (1) An emergency shelter allowance must be provided, upon request, to a household composed of an applicant for or recipient of public assistance, who has been medically diagnosed as having AIDS or HIV-related illness as defined from time-to-time by the AIDS Institute of the State Department of Health, and any household members residing with such person. Such household must be homeless or faced with homelessness and have no viable and less costly alternative housing available. The social and medical needs of the household members must be considered in making a determination concerning availability of alternative housing.

      1. (i) An applicant for or recipient of public assistance medically diagnosed as having AIDS or HIV-related illness is considered to be the “first person” in the household, and qualifies the household for an emergency shelter allowance. The first person may or may not be in receipt of supplemental security income (SSI).
      2. (ii) The income and needs of the first person medically diagnosed as having AIDS or HIV-related illness and any additional household member that is not in receipt of SSI are used in calculating an emergency shelter allowance, as described in paragraph (3) of this subdivision.
      3. (iii) The SSI income and needs of any household member not considered the first person medically diagnosed as having AIDS or HIV-related illness are not used in calculating an emergency shelter allowance.
   2. (2) An emergency shelter allowance must not exceed $480 for the first person in the household and $330 for each additional household member, and in no event be greater than the household’s actual monthly rent due. Except for cases specified in paragraph (3) of this subdivision, the emergency shelter allowance is considered to be the household's public assistance shelter allowance for public assistance budgeting purposes.

   3. (3) When a household comprising both public assistance and SSI eligible persons requests an emergency shelter allowance, the social services district must compute the amount of the allowance as follows:

      1. (i) determine the public assistance grant of the public assistance eligible persons using the appropriate rent schedule amount in subdivision (a) of this section;
      2. (ii) calculate the net amount of actual household shelter costs by subtracting the appropriate rent schedule amount, as determined by referring to subdivision (a) of this section, from the total actual household shelter costs;
      3. (iii) calculate the maximum amount of emergency shelter allowance available to the household by subtracting the appropriate rent schedule amount, as determined by referring to subdivision (a) of this section, from the maximum allowance authorized by paragraph (2) of this subdivision for the total number of persons in the household; and
      4. (iv) subtract the SSI and other income of the SSI eligible person only when such person is included as the first person in the household, from the sum of the amount calculated in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph, whichever is less, and the incremental nonshelter public assistance standard of need of the SSI eligible persons. The resulting amount, if greater than zero, is the household's emergency shelter allowance. This allowance is added to the public assistance grant determined in accordance with subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.

   4. (4) When necessary, social services districts must:

      1. (i) address the social services needs of a person in receipt of an emergency shelter allowance through the direct provision of services or through the provision of appropriate information and referral services; efforts should be made to ensure that an applicant for or a recipient of such an allowance has established appropriate social and medical support networks;
      2. (ii) assist an applicant for or a recipient of an emergency shelter allowance to secure the required documentation so that eligibility for such allowance can be determined; and

      3. (iii) arrange for required face-to-face interviews to be conducted during home visits or at other appropriate sites.

         In accordance with department regulations, designated representatives may file and sign application and recertification documents on behalf of an applicant for or a recipient of an emergency shelter allowance.

         (l) Shelter allowances in excess of the standards.

         A shelter supplement plan under paragraph (a)(3) of this section may include provisions for treatment of SSI family members that differ from the requirements of section 352.2(b) of this Part, but only with respect to the shelter supplement and only if approved by the office.

         (m) Inspection of shelter placements.

         Social services districts that make referrals for temporary emergency shelter for eligible homeless households to temporary housing units, which will be paid for by public funds, that are not otherwise governed by section 460 of the Social Services Law, Parts 900 and 491 of this Title, or subdivision (h) of this section, shall submit for approval by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance health and safety standards for those units which comport with all applicable State and local laws, regulations, codes and ordinances. Additionally, social services districts shall be responsible for the inspection of such temporary housing units at least once every 12 months to confirm that such standards are satisfied. A written report shall be made of each such inspection and shall be maintained at the office of the social services district together with such other information as the social services district may maintain concerning the households placed in the temporary housing unit. A copy of any such inspection report shall be provided to the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance within 30 days of its completion.

   (k) Emergency shelter allowances.

(a)