As of March 24, 2003, all family shelter information will be in BEACON. BEACON will have a resource list of all EA shelters. The specific shelter information will be associated for each EA AU in shelter. This information will enable the Department to identify where each EA AU has been placed and will provide statistical information on demographics at specific shelter sites. These instructions should be considered Phase 1 of EA AU information in BEACON.

Given the increased focus on registered sex offenders living in Massachusetts communities and the safety threat that such persons might pose in a family shelter, the Department has formalized its Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter intake and placement policies. Effective immediately, TAO staff will be required to determine if any member in the EA AU age 10 and older is listed as a sex offender with the Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB). Placement of the family will not be delayed awaiting information from SORB.

The purpose of this memo is to inform staff about the BEACON data entry responsibilities of CEP for initial placements from the Boston Family Housing Office including families referred to BFH from the Dudley Square and Newmarket Square TAO’s.

The TES-EPR-1 form has been revised to better capture the information needed when a family is placed into shelter. The revised TES-EPR-1 form is attached to this memo and will be available statewide.

DTA planning to purchase shelter units across nine regions, to place families closer to their home communities.  In addition, we are purchasing units that reflect the diverse and changing needs of families, including those that require wheelchair-accessible units, units without carpeting for children with severe breathing issues, and units to accommodate the growing number of very large families in our shelter system.   We expect to complete the smooth transition to new contracts by February 1, 2009.  Also in this issue: Quality control: shelter and utility expenses must be updated when move is reported; Simplified SNAP application for elderly clients in E,S, and P; TAFDC Family Self-sufficiency program; SNAP dependent care deductions; EA referrals for noncompliance change in procedures; EA transfers for increased services no longer possible; Transportation changes in western MA; Interagency housing solution command center; SNAP farm bill changes.