About

About the SHC

The Statewide Homeless Council (SHC) began in 2005 after being established by statute (2004) replacing the Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and Housing Opportunities. The authorizing legislation was amended in 2008 to expand the council's advisory role and to add additional members to the SHC.

Purpose

The purpose of the SHC is to serve as an advisory committee to the Maine State Housing Authority, the Governor, the Legislature, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Maine Department of Corrections (DOC) on homeless matters. The SHC is charged with providing leadership to end homelessness and providing support to the Regional Homeless Councils; educating people on homeless issues; serving as coordinator of information; assessing statewide needs; identifying potential resources; providing assistance to people who are homeless by identifying resources and improving access to them; and reviewing, monitoring and implementing plans to end homelessness.

Organization

The SHC consists of 14 members. The Governor appoints six members, two from each of the state's three Regional Homeless Councils, based on nomination provided by the three Councils. The Director of the Maine State Housing Authority is a member. Three members are appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, one from each of the three Homeless Councils. The Commissioners of DHHS and DOC, and the Director of the Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services or their designees, are also members. The chair of the SHC was originally a representative from the Governor's Office. Members serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. The Maine State Housing Authority provides staff support to the SHC.

Authorizing Legislation

SUBCHAPTER 5-A
STATEWIDE HOMELESS COUNCIL
§5046. Statewide Homeless Council created

The Statewide Homeless Council, established in accordance with Title 5, chapter 379, shall serve as an advisory committee with respect to the administration and implementation of this chapter to the state authority, the Governor and the Legislature.
§5047.   Membership; appointment; terms of office; chair
     1. Membership; chair. The council consists of 11 members appointed as follows:
A. Six members appointed by the Governor, 2 from each of 3 regional homeless councils, based on nominations provided by the 3 regional homeless councils;
B. The Director of the Maine State Housing Authority;
C. Three members appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, one from each of 3 regional homeless councils, based on nominations provided by the 3 regional homeless councils; and
D. One member representing the Office of the Governor, who serves as the chair.
     2. Term of office. Members of the council appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House serve 3-year terms and serve at the pleasure of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. Members of the council appointed by the Governor serve 2-year terms and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
A. Members serve until their successors are appointed and qualified.
B. The appointing authorities shall fill a vacancy for the balance of an unexpired term in the same manner as the appointment was originally filled, except as otherwise provided.
     3. Staff. The state authority shall provide staff support to the council.
§5048. Duties
     The council shall advise the state authority with respect to the implementation of this chapter and the development of affordable housing. The council shall:
     1. Provide leadership. Provide leadership in efforts to end homelessness and provide support to the regional homeless councils by ensuring access to senior-level government officials and the Office the Governor;
     2. Educate. Develop and coordinate an education campaign regarding homelessness;
     3. Serve as coordinator of information. Serve as a coordinator of information and communication among state agencies and among the state, municipal and private sectors with respect to this chapter. In carrying out this duty, the council shall:
A. Review proposed legislative changes, system changes and resource recommendations from the regional homeless councils and compile the regional reports into a single statewide report; and
B. Serve as a liaison with the federal Interagency Council on Homeless and recommend any necessary changes;
     4. Assess statewide needs. With assistance from regional homeless councils, develop estimates of statewide resource needs;
     5. Identify potential resources. Identify new funding opportunities through private and public sources and assist in disseminating this information to regional homeless councils along with available grant opportunities;
     6. Assistance to homeless. In cooperation with the state authority, identify the resources available to and ways to increase access to services to the homeless and persons with special needs, identify the gaps in delivery services to this population and make recommendations concerning the policies and programs serving this population; and
     7. Review, monitor and implement plans. On an annual basis, review and comment on plans submitted pursuant to Title 34-B, section 1221, and propose amendments and updates to and implement a plan to end homelessness.
     Sec. A-3. Transition; completion of terms. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, section 5047, subsection 2, members of the Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and Housing Opportunities on the effective date of this Act continue to serve out the remainder of their terms on the Statewide Homeless Council as representatives of the regional homeless councils of which they are members.

SP0916, LD 2296, item 1, 123rd Maine State Legislature
An Act Regarding the Statewide Homeless Council

An Act Regarding the Statewide Homeless Council
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4323, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5. Emergency contact information. The department shall collect from each municipality emergency contact information for use by municipal residents in applying for assistance under this section. The department shall forward the municipal emergency contact information periodically to the statewide 2-1-1 telephone number designated pursuant to Title 35-A, section 7108.
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §5047, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 380, Pt. A, §2, is amended to read:
1. Membership; chair. The council consists of 1113 members appointed as follows:

Six members appointed by the Governor, 2 from each of 3 regional homeless councils, based on nominations provided by the 3 regional homeless councils;
The Director of the Maine State Housing Authority;
Three members appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, one from each of 3 regional homeless councils, based on nominations provided by the 3 regional homeless councils; and
One member representing the Office of the Governor, who serves as the chair.;
The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's designee; and
The Commissioner of Corrections or the commissioner's designee.

Sec. 3. 30-A MRSA §5048, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 380, Pt. A, §2, is amended to read:

Assistance to homeless. In cooperation with the state authority, identify the resources available to and ways to increase access to services to the homeless and persons with special needs, identify the gaps in delivery services to this population and make recommendations concerning the policies and programs serving this population; and

Sec. 4. 30-A MRSA §5048, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 380, Pt. A, §2, is amended to read:

Review, monitor and implement plans. On an annual basis, review and comment on plans submitted pursuant to Title 34-B, section 1221, and propose amendments and updates to and implement a plan to end homelessness.; and

Sec. 5. 30-A MRSA §5048, sub-§8 is enacted to read:

Advise departments. Advise the Department of Corrections and the Department of Health and Human Services on issues related to homelessness and other issues related to the duties of the council.

SUMMARY
This bill is submitted by the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services after receipt of the report from the Statewide Homeless Council pursuant to Resolve 2007, chapter 131. The bill amends the Statewide Homeless Council laws to add as members the Commissioner of Corrections and the Commissioner of Health and Human Services and to add as a duty advising the Department of Corrections and the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to collect from each municipality emergency contact information for use by municipal residents in applying for assistance and to forward the municipal emergency contact information periodically to the statewide 2-1-1 telephone number designated pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 7108.

SP0916, LR 3620, item 1, Signed on 2008-04-11 - First Special Session - 123rd Legislature