SHELTER REQUIREMENTS
1.________
INVOLUNTARY FAMILY SEPARATION
(24 CFR § 576.102 Prohibition against involuntary family separation)
The age, of a child under age 18 is not be used as a basis for denying any family’s admission to the emergency shelter or transitional
housing program.
2.________
LEAD-SAFETY
The Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act (42 U.S.C. 4821–4846), the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of
1992 (42 U.S.C. 4851–4856), and implementing regulations in 24 CFR part 35, subparts A, B, H, J, K, M, and R apply to all shelters
assisted under ESG program and all housing occupied by program participants. Where residents may reside for more than 100 days
and when the unit or shelter was built before 1978, the unit assisted must be lead safe and that the agency must followed lead-safe
rules.
Lead safe activities and rules include:
☐(A) A visual assessment of all painted surface to identify deteriorated surfaces.
☐(B) Complete stabilization of all deteriorated surfaces.
☐(C) Incorporation of lead-based paint maintenance into regular building maintenance and operations.
☐(D) Notification to the client in the client’s language of the presumption of lead.
3.________
STRUCTURE AND MATERIALS
The shelter building must be structurally sound to protect residents from the elements and not pose any threat to health and
safety of the residents.
☐The agency complies with all state and local zoning, health, safety and fire codes and regulations that apply to the safe
operation of the shelter.
☐Cooking or heating appliances in any room used for sleeping are prohibited.
☐The physical premises and equipment are maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, free of hazards and in good
repair.
☐Corrections are made within 30 days of notification of a problem.
4.________
ACCESS
The shelter must be accessible in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794) and implementing
regulations at 24 CFR part 8; the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) and implementing regulations at 24 CFR part 100; and
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq.) and 28 CFR part 35; where applicable. This means the shelter
assures non-discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, or family size, and
disability, except where limited by the facility.
5.________
SPACE AND SECURITY
☐Except where the shelter is intended for day use only, the shelter provides each program participant in the shelter with
an acceptable place to sleep and adequate space and security for themselves and their belongings.
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☐There is adequate on-site staff coverage during all hours the shelter is open.
(An acceptable staffing plan is as that during awake hours, there should be at least 1 staff person to 30 residents for an adult only facility, and
1 staff person to 20 residents for a facility housing children.)
☐First aid equipment and emergency medical supplies are available at all times. Staff has access to a telephone while on
duty. Emergency telephone numbers are posted conspicuously near the telephone.
6.________
INTERIOR AIR QUALITY
☐Each room or space within the shelter has a natural or mechanical means of ventilation.
☐The interior air is free of pollutants at a level that might threaten or harm the health of residents.
7.________
WATER SUPPLY
☐The shelter’s water supply must free from contamination meaning it is drinkable.
☐The shelter has water 24-hours a day.
8.________
SANITARY FACILITIES
Each program participant in the shelter has access to sanitary facilities that are in proper operating condition, are private,
and are adequate for personal cleanliness and the disposal of human waste.
Towels, soap and toilet tissues are available to each client.
9.________
THERMAL ENVIRONMENT
The shelter has a safe, properly functioning heating system.
10.________
ILLUMINATION AND ELECTRICITY
☐There must be sufficient electrical sources to permit the safe use of electrical appliances in the shelter.
☐Adequate natural or artificial illumination is provided to permit normal indoor activities and to support the health and
safety of occupants.
11.________
FOOD PREPARATION
☐Food preparation areas, if any, contain suitable space and equipment to store, prepare, and serve food in a safe and
sanitary manner.
☐When food is prepared and served meals are nutritionally balanced.
☐When food is prepared and served, the shelter meets the requirements of a licensed food service establishment.
12.________
SANITARY CONDITIONS
The shelter must be maintained in a sanitary condition such that
☐Provisions have been made for pest control services.
☐There are no bed bugs.
☐There is adequate removal of garbage from interior premises.
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☐Entrances, exits, steps, and walkways are kept clear of garbage, debris, and other hazards such as ice and snow.
13.________
FIRE SAFETY
☐There must be at least one working, battery operated smoke detector in each occupied unit of the shelter and where
possible, smoke detectors must be located near sleeping areas.
☐The fire alarm system must be designed for hearing-impaired residents.
☐All public areas of the shelter must have at least one working smoke detector.
☐There must also be a second means of exiting the building in the event of fire or other emergency.
☐There is a fire safety plan which includes at least the following:
 A posted evacuation plan;
 Fire drills, conducted at least quarterly;
 Operating fire detection systems which are tested at least quarterly;
14.________
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
☐Client records are secured in a locked area or locked filing cabinet.
☐There are written policies for intake procedures and criteria for shelter admission.
☐Clients are allowed to use the shelter as a legal residence for the purpose of voter registration and the receipt of public
benefits.
☐All shelter staff, including volunteers, have received at a minimum, training and orientation regarding:
 Fire and emergency evacuation procedures for the facility;
 Emergency procedures for medical, psychiatric, or other crisis situations;
 Special needs of homeless persons;
 Client confidentiality requirements;
 Appropriate chains of authority or command within the shelter.
☐There is a written position description for each type of position which includes, at a minimum, job responsibilities,
qualifications and salary range.
☐There are written personnel policies in affect which also include a Code of Ethics for all shelter personnel.
☐Daily attendance logs are maintained and include, at a minimum, the name, age, sex, social security number (if known
by the client) and signature of each person residing in the shelter.
☐Residents are furnished information about available services in the community.
☐The shelter holds money or food stamps, if requested, by a resident and also keep adequate records of the residents’
money and food stamps. The money and food stamps are available to the residents on request without unreasonable
delay.
☐The following are posted and distributed to residents in appropriate language:
 Rules of the shelter;
 Shelter residents’ rights and responsibilities;
 A list of standards for conditions in shelters; and
 The shelter’s internal grievance procedures.
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