Chief Patron: Peace
Modify Auxiliary Grant to Allow Supportive Housing (language only)

Item 338 #1h

Language
Page 307, after line 46, insert:
"G.1. The Department may enter into an agreement for the provision of supportive housing for individuals receiving auxiliary grants pursuant to § 51.5-160 with any provider licensed to provide mental health community support services, intensive community treatment, programs of assertive community treatment, supportive in-home services, or supervised living residential services. Such agreement shall include requirements for (i) individualized service plans for every individual receiving services, (ii) access to skills training for every individual receiving services, (iii) assistance with accessing available community-based services and supports for every individual receiving services, (iv) recipient-level outcome data reporting, (v) adherence to identified supportive housing components, (vi) initial identification and ongoing review of the level of care needs for each recipient, (vii) ongoing monitoring of services described in the recipient's individualized service plan, and (viii) annual inspections by the Department or its designee to determine whether the provider is in compliance with the requirements of the agreement.
2. Supportive housing provided by providers entering into agreements with the Department pursuant to this section shall (i) include appropriate support services in the least restrictive and most integrated setting practicable for the recipient, (ii) comply with federal habitability standards, (iii) provide cooking and bathroom facilities in each unit, (iv) afford dignity and privacy to the recipient, (v) include rights of tenancy and rights of appeal prior to termination of a recipient's tenancy, (vi) provide rental levels that leave sufficient funds for other necessary living expenses, and (vii) not admit or retain recipients who require ongoing, on-site, 24-hour supervision and care or recipients who have any of the conditions or care needs described in subsection D of § 63.2-1805.3.  Auxiliary grant recipients shall be entitled to a personal needs allowance when computing the amount of the auxiliary grant. The amount of such personal needs allowance shall be set forth in the appropriation act.
4. The Commissioner shall adopt regulations for the administration of the auxiliary grants program that shall include (i) the services to be provided to the auxiliary grant recipient and paid for by the auxiliary grant and not charged to the recipient's personal needs allowance, and (ii) the process for supportive housing providers, assisted living facilities, and adult foster care homes to report and certify their costs, including allowable costs and resident charges.
5. In order to receive an auxiliary grant while residing in supportive housing or an assisted living facility, an individual shall have been evaluated by a case manager or other qualified assessor using the uniform assessment instrument to determine his need for residential living care upon admission and annually thereafter. An individual may select supportive housing or an assisted living facility subject to evaluation and assessment of the individual and availability of the selected housing option as allowed by regulations of the Commissioner, but in no event shall any public agency incur a financial obligation if the individual is determined ineligible for an auxiliary grant."

Explanation
(This amendment adds language extending housing options for individuals receiving auxiliary grants to include supportive housing, provided the supportive housing provider has entered into an agreement for the provision of supportive housing with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. It also establishes requirements for providers of supportive housing that enter into agreements with the Department.)