§ 5-20-9-6 — Indiana housing first program established; program to be administered by authority; grants from Indiana commission to combat substance use disorder; policies and procedures

Indiana § 5-20-9-6

• Jurisdiction: Indiana
• Title 5: STATE AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATION
• Art. 20: HOUSING
• Ch. 9: Indiana Housing First Program

Text

(a) The Indiana housing first program is
established to provide housing and support services for eligible
persons. The program shall be administered by the authority. The
Indiana commission to combat substance use disorder established
under IC 4-3-25-3 may award grants to the authority for the purposes
of the program. Not later than January 1, 2018, the authority shall
establish policies and procedures to implement and administer the
program. The policies and procedures established by the authority
under this section must ensure that the program does the following:
(1) Provides eligible program participants with affordable and
safe housing through program rental assistance to be used in
dedicated supportive housing units and in existing market units in
the community.
(2) Includes a plan for the:
(A) initial leasing of; and
(B) management of rental assistance through the affordability
period for;
supportive housing developed under the program.
(3) Provides eligible program participants with support services,
including:
(A) employment assistance and job training;
(B) substance abuse and addiction treatment;
(C) educational assistance;
(D) life skills assistance; and
(E) treatment for, and the management of, mental and physical
health problems;
that are predicated on assertive engagement rather than coercion.
Support services described in clause (B) must be predicated on a
harm reduction approach to addiction, rather than mandating
abstinence, while supporting a program participant's commitment
to recovery.
(4) Grants eligible persons who have a high degree of medical
vulnerability priority as participants in the program.
(5) Provides program participants with leases and tenant
protections as provided by law.
(6) Establishes annual goals to:
(A) reduce the number of individuals cycling through chemical
addiction programs;
(B) provide long term supports for individuals dually diagnosed
with:
(i) a serious and persistent mental illness; and
(ii) a chronic chemical addiction;
(C) increase the housing stability of persons with mental illness
or other behavioral health issues; and
(D) increase positive health indicators for all program
participants;
in Indiana as a whole and in particular regions, communities, and
metropolitan statistical areas within Indiana, through the program
and support services provided under the program. The goals
required by this subdivision must be based on data collected by
the authority and the authority's partners.
(7) Includes partnerships with public entities and private entities,
including any of the following, to provide support services and a
continuum of care for eligible program participants:
(A) Nonprofit or faith based organizations providing services
to individuals and families in the program's target population.
(B) Units of local government.
(C) School corporations and schools.
(D) Businesses.
(E) Public housing agencies.
(F) Social service providers.
(G) Mental health providers.
(H) Hospitals.
(I) Affordable housing developers and providers.
(J) Law enforcement agencies and correctional facilities.
(K) Organizations serving homeless veterans.
(L) Organizations serving victims of domestic violence.
(M) Universities.
(N) Other public or private entities the authority considers
appropriate to partner with to accomplish the purposes of the
program.
(b) In establishing the policies and procedures required by this
section, the authority may collaborate with or seek guidance from:
(1) other appropriate state agencies, including the department of
correction, the Indiana department of health, and the office of the
secretary of family and social services (and the appropriate
divisions within the office of the secretary of family and social
services);
(2) officials in other states or municipalities that have
implemented housing first programs or other similar programs;
and
(3) any of the entities listed in subsection (a)(7).

Legislative History

As added by P.L.103-2017, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.114-2022, SEC.11; P.L.56-2023, SEC.39.