Resolve, To Reduce Homelessness for People with Mental Illness or Dual Diagnoses

Sec. 1. Definitions. Resolved: As used in this resolve, the following terms have the following meanings:

1. Client. "Client" means a person from the target population who participates in the program;

2. Program. "Program" means a pilot program to demonstrate the effectiveness of a strategy to end homelessness for individuals in the target population by providing stable housing and long-term support; and

3. Target population. "Target population" means the population of homeless individuals in the State who have been diagnosed with mental illness or dually diagnosed with mental illness and chemical dependency; and be it further

Sec. 2. Department of Health and Human Services to conduct pilot program. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall conduct the program and make the program a priority when directing rental assistance resources; and be it further

Sec. 3. Program goals. Resolved: That the program's goal is to provide permanent housing and an adequate support network for the target population through caseworkers engaging and providing case management and support for the target population. A caseworker may have no more than 20 clients and will provide services in a fluid manner, beginning with emergency crisis services for each client and following each client into the community, consistent with Maine's Plan to End and Prevent Homelessness adopted March 11, 2008 by the Maine State Housing Authority's Statewide Homeless Council; and be it further

Sec. 4. Program details. Resolved: That the program will last 2 years and serve 180 clients who live in both urban and rural settings with 9 caseworkers who will be assigned 20 clients apiece. The caseworkers shall place each client in stable housing by distributing to each client a rental assistance voucher provided by the Maine State Housing Authority, the Department of Health and Human Services, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development or any other entity. After placing a client in housing, the caseworker shall provide outreach and support to maintain the stability of the client's housing and serve other issues that the client may have for the term of the pilot program. The program shall place one caseworker each in Presque Isle, Bangor, Lewiston, Augusta, Waterville, York and the Greater Portland area and 2 caseworkers in Portland; and be it further

Sec. 5. Rules. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services may adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this resolve. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

SUMMARY

This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a 2-year pilot program to demonstrate the effectiveness of placing homeless individuals who have been diagnosed with mental illness or dually diagnosed with mental illness and chemical dependency in stable housing and providing long-term support in accordance with Maine's Plan to End and Prevent Homelessness adopted March 11, 2008 by the Maine State Housing Authority's Statewide Homeless Council. The program involves 9 caseworkers serving 20 clients each in finding the clients stable housing using rental assistance vouchers and continuing outreach and support to the clients for the term of the program.