A. Definition: As used in this section, "resident or residency" means a person with a physical presence within a home, house, place of abode, place of habitation, dwelling or place where he or she actually lives for a consecutive period of thirty (30) days or more by maintaining a physical mailing address and demonstrating the intent of establishing Gem County as his or her permanent home. A "resident" does not include a person who comes into this state for temporary purposes, including, but not limited to, education, vacation, or seasonal labor. All applicants must be valid residents of Gem County and the United States of America to qualify for said assistance.
B. Housing: Any nonresident applying for the first month's rent in Gem County shall not be eligible under the nonmedical indigent fund. Payment of rent shall only be approved when the applicant has established residency in Gem County. Further, the amount of rent or housing assistance shall not exceed one month's reasonable rent, if the following conditions have been met:
1. The applicant has received an eviction notice for a residence located in Gem County, Idaho.
2. Such eviction would be detrimental to the health and well being of the applicant or its household.
3. The applicant has exhausted all other sources for funds to meet their housing expense.
4. If the applicant has applied for housing assistance and has indicated that he/she is living in substandard housing, the housing, to be considered as substandard housing, must consist of certification from a unit or agency of government or from an applicant's present landlord that the applicant's unit has one or more of the deficiencies listed below:
a. The housing unit is dilapidated, does not provide safe and adequate shelter and in its present condition endangers the health, safety, or well being of a household; or it has one or more critical defects, or a combination of intermediate defects in sufficient number of original construction, or they may result from continued neglect or lack of repair or from serious damage to the structure;
b. Does not have operable indoor plumbing or access to an outhouse;
c. Does not have electricity or has inadequate or unsafe electrical service;
d. Does not have a safe or adequate source of heat;
e. Should, but does not have a kitchen; or
f. Has been declared unfit for habitation by an agency or unit of government. (Single room occupancy (SRO) housing as defined in 24 CFR 882.102 is not substandard solely because it does not contain sanitary or food preparation facilities (or both).)
C. Clothing: There exists in Gem County free assistance for clothing through church service centers, and WICAP, Gem County will authorize payment for specialized clothing only upon extraordinary circumstances.
D. Food: There exists in Gem County food assistance through the established community food bank and WICAP. An applicant must exhaust this resource as well as provide proof of application for food stamps through Idaho health and welfare before any consideration is given for emergency food assistance.
E. Utilities: Gem County will provide utility assistance to eligible applicants who have received a disconnection notice when said disconnection would be detrimental to the health and well being of the applicant or their household and when such intervention by Gem County would constitute crisis intervention. Payment for utilities shall be limited to one average month expense for said utilities. The applicant must exhaust all other resources prior to Gem County being obligated to provide assistance. Additionally, assistance shall be limited to one payment per year, be used to defray heat costs only, and not be provided to applicants who demonstrate a self-created emergency. Applicants must meet one hundred thirty percent (130%) of federal poverty guidelines.
F. Transportation Expense: Gem County will only provide transportation assistance for medical treatment for eligible applicants when no other resources are available. Gem County may provide transportation assistance for relocation of applicants and their households upon a showing of special circumstances.
G. Shelter Care Expense: Gem County will not provide any assistance to shelter care residents presently receiving any form of state or federal assistance. Gem County determines that the base assistance provided to said residents is adequate to meet all nonmedical needs of the residents.
H. Other Assistance: Gem County will not provide any further nonmedical assistance to eligible individuals that is not set forth above.
I. Medically Unemployable Person: A qualified applicant shall be classified as medically unemployable. Medically unemployable persons shall be eligible for nonmedical services for a period of time to be determined in the sole discretion of the Gem County commissioners based upon medical documentation submitted by the applicant.
J. County Welfare Director: The Gem County welfare director is hereby authorized to, in her or his discretion, in an emergency determine the eligibility of applicants for nonmedical assistance and disburse assistance in sums not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00) per applicant without the necessity of board action. Any sums in excess of said amount shall be made by a majority of the board or county commissioners. (Res. 98-06, 10-27-1997)