Requirements for shelter to qualify for funds
This law sets the rules a domestic violence shelter must follow to get state money. The shelter must be a nonprofit, have a board that reflects the community it serves, get at least 25% of its funding from other sources, house children who come with a parent fleeing domestic violence, keep victims' information private, and tell victims about that privacy policy upfront. Workers and volunteers cannot share victims' private information in court unless the victim gives written permission. Shelters that turn people away based on race, religion, age, marital status, national origin, or ancestry do not qualify for the funds.
455.220. Requirements for shelter to qualify for funds. — 1. To qualify for funds and section 455.215 a shelter shall meet all of the following requirements:
(1) Be incorporated in the state as a ;
(2) Have who represent the racial, ethnic and diversity of the community to be , at least one of whom must possess personal in confronting or mitigating the problems of ;
(3) Receive at least twenty-five percent of its funds from sources other than funds distributed pursuant to section 455.215. These other sources may be public or private and may include of goods or s, including materials, commodities, transportation, office space or other types of facilities or personal services;
(4) Provide residential service or facilities for children when accompanied by a parent, , or who is a victim of domestic violence and who is receiving temporary residential service at the shelter;
(5) Require persons employed by or volunteering services to the shelter to maintain the of any that would identify individuals served by the shelter and any information or records that are directly related to the provided to such individuals;
(6) Prior to providing any advocacy services, inform individuals served by the shelter of the nature and scope of the confidentiality requirement in (5) of this .
2. Any person employed by or volunteering services to a shelter for victims of domestic violence shall be concerning any confidential information described in subdivision (5) of subsection 1 of this section, unless the confidentiality requirement is by the individual served by the shelter.
3. A shelter does not qualify for funds if it discriminates in its admissions or of services on the basis of race, religion, color, age, marital status, origin, or ancestry.
Tap any gold-underlined word to see what it means.
Red section numbers link to that law.
Source & history notes
(L. 1982 H.B. 1069 § 6, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1677, et al.) (2004) Confidentiality requirements of section are not legally recognized privileged communications within meaning of section 210.140. State ex rel. Hope House, Inc. v. Merrigan, 133 S.W.3d 44 (Mo.banc).
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.