Not be discriminated against based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity /expression, disability or marital status.
Not be denied admission or separated from member of your family based on any of these things.
To decide for yourself who is a member of your family and to be served together with those people whether your family includes adults and children or just adults, or the age disability, marital status, actual or perceived sexual orientation, or gender identity of any member of your family.
To be placed in a shelter based on the gender with which you identify.
If at any time you express safety or privacy concerns, we will take reasonable steps to address your concerns.
Not to be sexually harassed.
To be treated with respect and dignity and in a way that honors differences.
To get services that meet your needs with a focus on helping you get and keep permanent housing and achieve the things that are important to you.
To not be physically, sexually, verbally and/or emotionally abused or threatened.
To receive services that are consistent with the CT BOS Housing First model. (See details below.)
To receive a written statement describing the services provided by the project, any rules and your responsibilities and to receive an updated written statement if any changes are made.
To have your personal information and records kept private and not shared without your written permission and to say with whom the information can be shared.
To be informed of situations when your personal information can be shared without your permission, for example, when there is a medical emergency, when a clear and immediate danger to you to others exists, when there is possible child or elder abuse, or when ordered by a court of law.
To make suggestions and complaints about services or denial of services.
To receive a prompt and reasonable response to requests and complaints.
To have the freedom to participate in or choose not to participate in services and activities offered by ImmaCare Inc. or by any other organization in the community.
If you are no longer going to get services and /or housing, to get a written notice that includes a clear statement of the reasons, an opportunity to appeal the decision, and the right to receive a written notification of the final decision. This right applies whether you decide you no longer want services or we decide we can no longer serve you.
If you are a participant in a tenant-based rental assistance program, you have the right to choose the housing unit you will live in and to move within the Hartford area when your lease expires. All housing units must meet HUD standards, and you may be directed to a smaller geographic area, if necessary, to ensure that you can get services, unless that would put you at likely threat of violence or stalking.
To receive a copy of these rights and have someone review them with you. If you feel your rights have been violated, you may file a grievance.
CT BOS Housing First Principles
Housing First is a programmatic and systems approach that centers on providing homeless people with housing quickly and then providing services as needed using a low barrier approach that emphasizes community integration, stable tenancy, recovery and individual choice.
Low barrier approach to entry:
- Housing First offers individuals and families experiencing homelessness immediate access to permanent supportive housing without unnecessary prerequisites. For example:
- Admission/tenant screening and selection practices do not require abstinence from substances, completion of or compliance with treatment, or participation in services.
- Applicants are not rejected on the basis of poor or lack of credit or income, poor or lack of rental history, minor criminal convictions, or other factors that might indicate a lack of “housing readiness.”
- Blanket exclusionary criteria based on more serious criminal convictions are not applied, though programs may consider such convictions on a case by case basis as necessary to ensure the safety of other residents and staff.
- Generally, only those admission criteria that are required by funders are applied, though programs may also consider additional criteria on a case by case basis as necessary to ensure the safety of tenants and staff. Application of such additional criteria should be rare, and may include, for example, denial of an applicant who is a high risk registered sex offender by a project serving children, or denial of an applicant who has a history of domestic violence involving a current participant.
Community integration and recovery:
- Housing is integrated into the community and tenants have ample opportunity and are supported to form connections outside of the project.
- Housing is located in neighborhoods that are accessible to community resources and services such as schools, libraries, houses of worship, grocery stores, laundromats, doctors, dentists, parks, and other recreation facilities.
- Efforts are made to make the housing look and feel similar to other types of housing in the community and to avoid distinguishing the housing as a program that serves people with special needs.
- Services are designed to help tenants build supportive relationships, engage in personally meaningful activities, and regain or develop new roles in their families and communities.
- Services are recovery-based and designed to help tenants gain control of their own lives, define their personal values, preferences, and visions for the future, establish meaningful individual short and long-term goals, and build hope that the things they want out of life are attainable. Services are focused on helping tenants achieve the things that are important to them and goals are not driven by staff priorities or selected from a pre-determined menu of options.
Lease compliance and housing retention
- Tenants are expected to comply with a standard lease agreement and are provided with services and supports to help maintain housing and prevent eviction. Visitors are expected to comply with requirements in the lease agreement.
- Leases do not include stipulations beyond those that are customary, legal, and enforceable under Connecticut law.
- No program rules beyond those that are customary, legal, and enforceable through a lease are applied (e.g., visitor policies should be equivalent to those in other types of permanent, lease-based housing in the community). Housing providers may ask for identification from visitors.
- Services are designed to identify and reduce risks to stable tenancy and to overall health and well-being.
- Retention in housing is contingent only on lease compliance and is not contingent on abstinence from substances or compliance with services, treatment or other clinical requirements. For example:
- Tenants are not terminated involuntarily from housing for refusal to participate in services or for violating program rules that are not stipulated in the lease.
- Transitional housing programs offer participants due process to resolve issues that may result in involuntary discharge (unless immediate risk to health and safety)
- PH providers only terminate occupancy of housing in cases of noncompliance with the lease or failure of a tenant to carry out obligations under Connecticut’s Landlord and Tenant Act (Chapter 830 of the Connecticut General Statute).
- In order to terminate housing, PH providers are required to use the legal court eviction process.
Separation of housing and services
- Projects are designed in such a manner that the roles of property management (e.g., housing application, rent collection, repairs, and eviction) and supportive services staff are clearly defined and distinct.
- Property management and support service functions are provided either by separate legal entities or by staff members whose roles do not overlap.
- There are defined processes for communication and coordination across the two functions to support stable tenancy.
- Those processes are designed to protect client confidentiality and share confidential information on a need to know basis only.
Tenant Choice
- Efforts are made to maximize tenant choice, including type, frequency, timing, location and intensity of services and whenever possible choice of neighborhoods, apartments, furniture, and décor.
- Staff accepts tenant choices as a matter of fact without judgment and provides services that are non-coercive to help people achieve their personal goals.
- Staff accepts that risk is part of the human experience and helps tenants to understand risks and reduce harm caused to themselves and others by risky behavior.
- Staff understands the clinical and legal limits to choice and intervenes as necessary when someone presents a danger to self or others.
- Staff helps tenants to understand the legal obligations of tenancy and to reduce risk of eviction.
- Projects provide meaningful opportunities for tenant input and involvement when designing programs, planning activities and determining policies.
Grievance
If you feel you have been discriminated against, denied a service, or treated in a manner inconsistent with the policies at ImmaCare you have the right to file a grievance. Complete the form and return it to the Director of Programs. They can be mailed to ImmaCare Inc. Director of Programs 168 Hungerford St. Hartford, CT 06106. You may be asked to speak with the Director of Programs as a part of the investigation. You will receive written notice within 30 days.