Okla. Stat. tit. 74, § 74-2900.1: Definitions - Cooperation of state housing agencies

with federal government - Leasing of vacant housing units.

A. As used in the Oklahoma Homeless Prevention Act:

1. "Comprehensive case management" means:

a. the assessment of the needs of an individual or

family,

b. the development and implementation of an employability

plan for the individual that accounts for family

circumstances,

c. the coordination and monitoring of service delivery,

d. the evaluation of service effectiveness, and

e. the reassessment of the needs of the individual or the

family.

2. "Homeless individual or family" means any person or family

who:

a. lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime

residence, or

b. has as a primary nighttime residence a publicly or

privately operated shelter designed to provide

temporary living accommodations, or

c. has as a primary nighttime residence a public or

private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as,

a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

The term includes those families and persons who do

not have access to normal accommodations as a result

of violence or the threat of violence from a

cohabitant, or

d. is in imminent danger of becoming homeless.

3. "Mentally ill person" means a mentally ill person as defined

by Section 1-103 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes.

4. "Self-sufficiency program" means a job opportunity and basic

skills training program designed to ensure that persons receiving

housing assistance obtain the education, training, and employment

that will help such persons avoid long-term dependency on such

assistance.

5. "Committee" means the Oklahoma Homeless Prevention

Committee, created in Section 2 of this act.

B. The Department of Human Services, the Department of Mental

Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Oklahoma Department of

Commerce, the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency and any state agency

with housing services may cooperate with federal government programs

or any other public or private entity or person in providing housing

or assistance for housing to homeless individuals or families, and

mentally ill persons who are in need of housing.

C. As funds are available, all state agencies specified in this

section and any other state agency with housing services, in

accordance with state and federal law, may provide resources to

local government agencies, local housing authorities or nonprofit

agencies to lease vacant housing units which are subject to

government control or which have been donated by any public or

private entity for use by homeless individuals or families and

mentally ill persons who are in need of housing. Funds available

pursuant to this section shall be used to guarantee coverage of

utility costs, repairs, insurance, and building and yard maintenance

of leased properties. Homes which have been temporarily donated by

private entities shall not be eligible for any monies so received

for repairs to such homes.

D. Any agreement entered into pursuant to this section between

a state agency and a local public or private nonprofit agency or

housing authority shall require the local agency or authority to

supervise the person to be served and secure an enforceable

agreement requiring the person to be served to maintain the leased

property. A violation of this agreement may result in termination

of the agreement and eviction from such leased property pursuant to

Section 132 of Title 41 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

E. In accordance with state and federal law, state agencies

specified in this section and any other state agency with housing

services may solicit government funds and grants, seek private

resources, and receive and distribute private, state and federal

funds to local public or private nonprofit agencies or housing

authorities to provide housing or assistance for housing or housing

Statutes.

E. In accordance with state and federal law, state agencies

specified in this section and any other state agency with housing

services may solicit government funds and grants, seek private

resources, and receive and distribute private, state and federal

funds to local public or private nonprofit agencies or housing

authorities to provide housing or assistance for housing or housing

services as provided for in this section. The local agency or

authority may require the person residing in the leased property to

participate in the payment of utilities, repair and maintenance to

the extent possible.

F. The State of Oklahoma, or any agency or subdivision thereof,

shall not be liable for utility costs, repairs, insurance, building

or yard maintenance, or other costs associated with any house to

which this section pertains, in excess of the amount specifically

appropriated therefore, allocated thereto by the agency or

subdivision, and not encumbered for any other purpose.