ORS 417.800
Department to coordinate efforts and make recommendations
(2)
In addition to any other scholarships or grants, the Department of Human Services may award two-year grants to organizations that provide services to unaccompanied homeless youth.(3)
An organization is eligible to apply for a grant under this section if the organization has an existing grant with the department to provide services to unaccompanied homeless youth.(4)
Grants awarded under this section may be used for any of the following:(a)
To increase the accessibility of any of the following programs and services to unaccompanied homeless youth:(A)
Shelter facilities;(B)
Outreach;(C)
Culturally specific services; and(D)
Mental health or substance abuse services; and(b)
To create or strengthen partnerships with host home programs and other transitional housing options.(5)
The department may adopt rules to administer the grant program described in this section. [2021 c.531 §1](a)
“Host home project” means a project that facilitates an arrangement under which an unaccompanied homeless youth resides in the home of a private individual, pursuant to the terms of a contract between the private individual and the youth, for free or at below-market rent.(b)
“Long-term host home project” means a host home project run by an organization that has a memorandum of understanding or a letter of agreement with one or more school districts and in which unaccompanied homeless youth participants, on average during the most recent two years, resided in host homes for a minimum of 180 days, as reported by the relevant school district.(c)
“Short-term host home project” means a host home project in which unaccompanied homeless youth participants, on average during the most recent two years, resided in host homes for a maximum of 180 days, as reported by the relevant school district.(d)
“Unaccompanied homeless youth” means a person who is:(A)
At least 16 years of age but not more than 21 years of age;(B)
Not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian;(C)
Not in the custody of the Department of Human Services;(D)
Not a ward of the state; and(E)
Homeless.(2)
In addition to and not in lieu of any other scholarships or grants, the department may award two-year grants to organizations that operate host home projects for unaccompanied homeless youth.(3)
An organization is eligible to apply for a grant under this section if the organization operated a host home project on January 1, 2021, and can demonstrate the ability to:(a)
Expand host home projects in communities in which the organization provides services;(b)
Establish new long-term host home projects in communities that do not have long-term host home projects; or(c)
Establish new short-term host home projects.(4)
Recipients of grants awarded under this section shall work to achieve the following outcomes for unaccompanied homeless youth:(a)
Improved school attendance.(b)
Participation in formal or informal mentoring.(c)
Increased access to nutrition, health care, mental trauma-informed support and transportation services.(5)
A recipient of a grant awarded under this section shall ensure all individuals of 18 years of age or older residing in the host home who are not the unaccompanied homeless youth have an approved background check under ORS 181A.200 (Authority of Department of Human Services, Oregon Health Authority and Employment Department to require fingerprints) and 409.027 (Abuse and neglect reports).(6)
A host home is not a child-caring agency as defined in ORS 418.205 (Definitions for ORS 418.205 to 418.327, 418.330, 418.470, 418.475, 418.950 to 418.970 and 418.992 to 418.998).(7)
The department may adopt rules to administer the grant program described in this section. [2021 c.531 §2](1)
A description of the process used to identify and reach out to unaccompanied homeless youth;(2)
Assessment data and other indicators to determine how well the housing, health and academic needs of unaccompanied homeless youth are being met;(3)
Demographic information about youth served or assessed for program participation;(4)
The academic progress of students participating in host home projects; and(5)
Assessment by the youth, host families and partner government and nonprofit entities about their experience in the host home projects. [2021 c.531 §3](2)
Sections 3 and 5 of this 2021 Act are repealed on January 2, 2024. [2021 c.531 §6]
Source:
Section 417.800 — Department to coordinate efforts and make recommendations, https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors417.html.
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