EQUAL ACCESS TO SERVICES POLICY
Miriam’s House does not discriminate. Beyond meeting the specified admission criteria, no person shall be denied services or shelter at Miriam’s House on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, or other unlawful basis.
Applicants must be referred for an interview by a human service organization since Miriam’s House does not operate on an emergency basis. Priority is given to individuals living in emergency shelters. Referrals from other sources (i.e. DSS, treatment centers, or probation) can be considered if the applicant’s homelessness, prior to her present circumstances can be documented.
Admission Criteria:
1. Applicants must first and foremost meet the federal definition of homelessness:
- Individuals and families who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and includes a subset for an individual who resided in an emergency shelter or a place not meant for human habitation and who is exiting an institution where he or she temporarily resided;
- Individuals and families who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence;
- Unaccompanied youth and families with children and youth who are defined as homeless under other federal statutes who do not otherwise qualify as homeless under this definition.
- Individuals and families who are fleeing, or are attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions that relate to violence against the individual or a family member. Applicants must meet the projected income and asset restrictions as defined by the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program.
2. Applicants must meet the projected income and asset restrictions as defined by the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program.
3. Applicants may range in age from 16 and up. If a young woman is under 18, she must be an emancipated legal adult.
4. Applicants may be single females or mothers with children.
5. Applicants must be willing to participate in education, money management, conflict resolution, job and parent training, employment, and other rehabilitative programs as warranted.
6. Applicants cannot be currently chemically dependent. Suspected current substance abusers must be verifiably drug free for at least 30 days prior to admission and participating in a recovery/counseling program.
