There is established within the Department of Human Services an Office of Shelter Monitoring to monitor shelters and services provided by the District and its contractors to clients who are homeless.
(Oct. 22, 2005, D.C. Law 16-35, § 27a, as added Mar. 14, 2007, D.C. Law 16-296, § 2(i), 54 DCR 1097.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
Law 16-296, the "Shelter Monitoring and Emergency Assistance Amendment Act of 2006", was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 16-625, which was referred to Committee on Human Services. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 14, 2006, and December 5, 2006, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on December 28, 2006, it was assigned Act No. 16-655 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 16-296 became effective on March 14, 2007.
(a) The Office shall monitor the conditions, services, and practices at shelters, evaluating the following, to the extent applicable:
(1) Health, safety, and cleanliness of shelters;
(2) Policies, practices, and program rules;
(3) Accessibility of shelters to clients with disabilities;
(4) Appropriateness of shelters for families;
(5) Respect for client rights established by §§ 4-754.11 and 4-754.12;
(6) Compliance with provider standards established by §§ 4-754.21 through 4-754.25;
(7) Comments of shelter clients and program staff;
(8) Ability of the program to facilitate transition from homelessness to permanent housing; and
(9) Any other information deemed appropriate.
(b) The Office shall conduct inspections on the premises of each shelter covered by § 4-754.01.
(c) The Office shall receive complaints about programs, facilities, and services provided within the continuum of care and shall investigate programs not in compliance with the applicable standards established in this act or with other requirements or agreements.
(d) The Office shall establish procedures for notifying providers of deficiencies and procedures for correcting those deficiencies in a timely manner.
(e) During any inspection or investigation conducted pursuant to this section, the provider shall make available to the Office for examination any records or other materials related to the delivery of its services, including records related to clients and to internal complaints, in accordance with the confidentiality requirements of § 4-754.11(7).
(f) The Office shall ensure confidential treatment of the personal, social, legal, financial, educational, and medical records and information related to a client or any member of a client's family, whether obtained from the client or from any other source, consistent with confidentiality requirements of District and federal law. The Office shall not disclose the identity of any person who brings a complaint or provides information to the Office without the person's consent, unless the Office determines that disclosure is unavoidable or necessary to further the ends of an inspection or investigation.
(g) The Office shall encourage appropriate use of mediation, fair hearing, and administrative review processes for resolving grievances, pursuant to §§ 4- 754.39, 4-754.41, and 4-754.42.
(h) The Office shall post in prominent places at each program and shelter site its contact information, its procedures for accepting complaints, and procedures for requesting mediation, a fair hearing, or administrative review of grievances.
(Oct. 22, 2005, D.C. Law 16-35, § 27b, as added Mar. 14, 2007, D.C. Law 16-296, § 2(i), 54 DCR 1097.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 16-296, see notes following § 4-754.51.
(a) The Office shall issue reports summarizing the findings of each inspection or investigation it conducts.
(b) The Office shall make available, upon request, each report issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to the provider, the Mayor, and all members of the Interagency Council. Upon request, the Office shall deliver an appropriate number of copies of the final report to the shelter for distribution to clients.
(c) The Office, in coordination with the Interagency Council, shall issue the general findings of its monitoring efforts as a section of the annual report required under § 4-752.02(5).
(Oct. 22, 2005, D.C. Law 16-35, § 27c, as added Mar. 14, 2007, D.C. Law 16-296, § 2(i), 54 DCR 1097.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 16-296, see notes following § 4-754.51.
(a) Employees of the Office shall agree in writing to comply with all applicable confidentiality requirements in accordance with their official duties.
(b) The Office shall train its employees, as appropriate, in compliance with applicable confidentiality restrictions, in homeless shelter program evaluation, and in sensitivity to the diversity of persons who are homeless in the District.
(c) The Office shall endeavor to hire staff who reflect the diversity of people accessing shelter in the District, including with respect to disability status, language, and experience being homeless.
(Oct. 22, 2005, D.C. Law 16-35, § 27d, as added Mar. 14, 2007, D.C. Law 16-296, § 2(i), 54 DCR 1097.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 16-296, see notes following § 4-754.51.
No person shall retaliate against a person who brings a complaint or provides information to the Office relevant to the performance of its duties. The Office shall report any violation of this section to the Interagency Council and the Office of the Inspector General.
(Oct. 22, 2005, D.C. Law 16-35, § 27e, as added Mar. 14, 2007, D.C. Law 16-296, § 2(i), 54 DCR 1097.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 16-296, see notes following § 4-754.51.
The Mayor, pursuant to § 4-756.02 and in consultation with the Interagency Council, shall set forth the policies and procedures for inspections, procedures for identifying and curing deficiencies, and procedures for taking enforcement actions against providers in violation of the standards of this chapter. The policies and procedures may include criteria for the provision of performance-based bonuses or penalties for providers.
(Oct. 22, 2005, D.C. Law 16-35, § 27f, as added Mar. 14, 2007, D.C. Law 16-296, § 2(i), 54 DCR 1097.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 16-296, see notes following § 4-754.51.
