The purpose of these regulations is to provide for the health, safety, and person-centered welfare of individuals with mental illness residing in mental health community residence facilities (MHCRFs). Each MHCRF shall meet the requirements of this chapter as of its effective date, unless otherwise specified in this chapter. No person shall operate an MHCRF in the District of Columbia without a license issued by the Department.
A MHCRF is a publicly or privately-owned community residence facility that provides twenty-four hour (24 hr.) supervised care and a home-like environment in a house or apartment building for individuals, age eighteen (18) or older:
There shall be three (3) principal categories of MHCRFs designed to meet different levels of resident need and preference licensed under and subject to this chapter: Supported Residence (SR), Supported Rehabilitative Residence (SRR) and Intensive Residence (IR). In addition to meeting the other requirements of this chapter, the SR shall comply with § 3857, the SRR shall comply with § 3858 and the IR shall comply with § 3859.
In addition, this chapter provides for short-term transitional beds, which shall meet the minimum licensure requirements for a SR facility, as well as the additional requirements in § 3860. A MHCRF with transitional beds shall be designated "SR-Transitional."
The number of residents allowed to reside in a MHCRF shall be as follows:
This chapter shall not apply to:
A MHCRF license is not an entitlement. The issuance of new licenses is subject to the availability of funds and the Department's determination that new or additional MHCRFs are necessary to adequately serve the public behavioral health system.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 22, r. 22-A3800