N.H. Admin. Code § He-M 314.05

Current through Register No. 50, December 12, 2024

Section He-M 314.05 - Personal Rights

(a) Persons who are requesting or receiving emergency shelter services shall be treated by emergency shelter staff and volunteers with dignity and respect regardless of the circumstances which brought them to the shelter.

(b) Staff and volunteers of an emergency shelter shall not abuse, neglect or exploit guests.

(c) Guests shall have the right to have information in their records treated as confidential and disclosed by staff to third parties only as permitted by the guest, required by law, or allowed in accordance with (e) below.

(d) Any provisions of He-M 314 that conflict with RSA 173-C:1 shall not apply.

(e) A shelter employee may disclose:

(1) To law enforcement personnel that information necessary to report a crime committed at the shelter; and

(2) To an employee of another shelter:

a. The fact that a guest committed a violent act or threats of violence within the last 30 days while on shelter premises; and

b. The circumstances of such acts or threats.

(f) Guests shall have the right to privacy including the following:

(1) The right to courtesies such as knocking on closed doors before entering;

(2) The right to send and receive unopened and uncensored correspondence;

(3) The right to have reasonable access to a telephone with such privacy as shelter arrangements allow, provided that:

a. Guests may be required to pay for long distance calls; and

b. Calls shall only be made for the following reasons:

1. Searching for a job;

2. Making medical appointments;

3. Searching for housing; or

4. Other similar matters related to the affairs of the resident; and

(4) The right to be free from searches of their persons and possessions, except that:

a. Searches shall be conducted only in accordance with applicable constitutional and legal standards;

b. Guests may be subjected to routine screening or scanning for detection of concealed weapons upon entering the shelter; and

c. The policies and practices regarding such searches shall be uniformly applied to all guests.

(g) No emergency shelter shall exclude guests for any part of the day, from October 1 through April 30, unless reasonable arrangements are made for guests to use an alternative indoor site which is available for guests' use while the shelter is closed. From May 1 through September 30, guests shall not be excluded during severe weather without an adequate indoor alternative.

N.H. Admin. Code § He-M 314.05

#7405, eff 11-21-001; ss by #9328, eff 11-22-08

Amended by Volume XXXVI Number 49, Filed December 8, 2016, Proposed by #12056, Effective 11/22/2016, Expires 5/21/2017.