Every Housing-Related Contract executed after the operative date of this Article VI shall contain provisions in which the Housing Provider agrees to the following requirements:
(a) (1) The Housing Provider shall make reasonable efforts to help Clients determine the Public Benefits for which they may be reasonably eligible, and help Clients enroll in all Public Benefits for which they may be reasonably eligible. "Reasonable efforts" within the meaning of the previous sentence shall include but not be limited to meeting, or attempting to meet, with all Clients within three months of the Client's placement in Permanent Supportive Housing and at least once per calendar year thereafter to discuss the Public Benefits the Client is receiving, the Public Benefits for which the Client has applied, and the Public Benefits for which the Client may be eligible but for which the Client has not applied. A Housing Provider satisfies the requirement of "attempting to meet" with a Client within the meaning of the previous sentence if the Housing Provider supplies the Client with a written notice of the date, time, and location of the proposed meeting at least two weeks before the meeting, then attempts to notify the Client at least twice by phone and at least once in person of the date, time, and location of the meeting. A Client "may be reasonably eligible" for a Public Benefit within the meaning of this Section 20.54.3 if the Housing Provider determines that the Client satisfies all of the criteria set forth on the worksheet created by the Department of Human Services pursuant to Section 20.54.4 of this Article VI.
(2) During each meeting with the Client described in subsection (a)(1), the Housing Provider shall provide the Client with a document listing all Public Benefits for which the Client may be reasonably eligible and the different manners in which the Client may apply for those Public Benefits. The Provider shall assist the Client to apply for all Public Benefits for which the Client may be reasonably eligible by: making an intake appointment for the Client at the Department of Human Services and providing the date, time and location of the appointment to the Client in writing; by assisting the Client to apply online; by assisting the Client to fill out and mail a paper application; or by assisting the Client to call the Department of Human Services to apply by phone.
(b) During each meeting with the Client described in subsection (a)(1), the Housing Provider shall provide the Client with the release described in subsection (b) of Section 20.54.4 of this Article VI. The Housing Provider shall explain to the Client the purpose of the release.
(c) Each Housing Provider shall produce and provide to the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing and Department of Human Services a report each year that includes the following information:
(1) The percentage of Clients enrolled in each Public Benefit;
(2) The percentage of Clients who have applied for all of the Public Benefits for which they may be reasonably eligible;
(3) A summary of the reasonable efforts made pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 20.54.3 to help Clients enroll in all Public Benefits for which they may be reasonably eligible; and
(4) If all Clients are not enrolled in the maximum Public Benefits for which they may be reasonably eligible, an explanation as to why a higher percentage of Clients are not so enrolled and a description of efforts that will be made to enroll more Clients in all Public Benefits for which they may be reasonably eligible.
A Housing Provider's first report required by this subsection (c) shall be due one year from the execution of any Housing-Related Contract entered into after operative date of this Article VI.
(d) Each Housing Provider shall retain for three years copies of all documents generated or received pursuant to this Section 20.54.3 of this Article VI.
(e) Each Housing Provider shall cooperate fully with the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing when it conducts its annual contract monitoring visit, as well as any audits and investigations, including allowing the Department full and complete access to documents and employees.
(f) No Housing Provider shall discharge, reduce in compensation, or otherwise discriminate against any employee for notifying the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing of a possible violation of this Article VI.
