Section 410.190  Physical Facilities

a)         Buildings, or parts of buildings, acquired or converted for use as an emergency shelter shall be safe, clean, well-ventilated, properly lighted and heated.

b)         If well water is used, a copy of the inspection report and compliance with local or State health department regulations shall be on file.

c)         Fire prevention and health standards complying with State laws and municipal codes shall be maintained.

d)         The emergency shelter shall have written emergency plans in the event of fire or natural disaster.  The plans shall be posted in an area accessible to residents and shall be reviewed with residents upon their first admission.

e)         The youth emergency shelter may not use or have on the premises, on or after July 1, 2000, any unsafe children's product as described in the Children's Product Safety Act and 89 Ill. Adm. Code 386 (Children's Product Safety).

f)         Dangerous household supplies and dangerous tools shall be kept in safe, locked places.  Unlawful controlled substances, firearms, ammunition, and other weapons shall not be permitted in an emergency shelter.

g)         There shall be provisions for separating a resident who is suspected of having a contagious disease from other residents pending medical determination.

h)         The emergency shelter shall have an operating telephone on the premises.

i)          Each resident shall be provided with a separate bed except that parents may share a double bed with their child over the age of 2.  Each bed shall have a mattress and comfortable bedding.  The bedding shall be changed for each new resident assigned to a bed.  If a resident will be staying in the shelter for more than seven days, linens shall be changed at least weekly.

j)          Residents shall not share a sleeping area or a sleeping room with residents of the opposite sex except parents may share rooms with their children.

k)         Sleeping areas or sleeping rooms shall be furnished according to the ages and special needs of the residents.  There shall be a minimum of  35 square feet of floor space per resident, excluding the closet and wardrobe area.

l)          Basements and attics may be used for sleeping for youth who are mobile, physically and mentally capable of self preservation, and able to understand and follow directions with minimal assistance in an emergency.

1)         To be used for sleeping, basements and attics shall have two exits with one exit leading directly to the outside with means to safely reach the ground level.  The second exit may be an easily accessible outside window which provides an unobstructed opening, operable from the inside without the use of tools, and large enough to accommodate an adult.  The sleeping area shall be separated from the furnace and utility areas.

2)         No basement or attic shall be used for sleeping without the written approval of fire, health, and safety officials.

m)        The sleeping areas shall be exposed to an operable outside window or shall have some alternate permanent means of ventilation.

n)         There shall be a bathroom unit including a lavatory and toilet for every ten youth.  Bathroom use shall be separate for males and females except for parents with their children.

o)         Shower and laundry facilities for the residents shall be provided in one of two ways:

1)         through written agreements approved by the Department with services such as drop-in centers that provide shower and/or laundry facilities for the residents; or

2)         through the provision of one shower facility for every 10 residents and laundry services on site at the emergency shelter.

p)         Shower use shall be separate for males and females except for parents and their children.

q)         Kitchen and dining facilities shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition in accordance with the requirements of State (Food Service Sanitation; 77 Ill. Adm. Code 750) and local public health authorities.

r)          Space and equipment shall be provided for indoor and outdoor recreation.  Recreational resources in nearby communities may be used to fulfill this requirement.

s)         There shall be office facilities and equipment for the conduct of the shelter's professional services and business affairs.  The office facilities do not need to be at the same location as the shelter facility but they must be located within reasonable daytime access to the residents.

t)          There shall be space designated in the facility for private interviews or conferences with residents.

u)         Healthy household pets owned by live-in staff which present no danger to residents are permitted on the premises unless prohibited by local health regulations.  A licensed veterinarian shall certify that the animals are free of diseases that could endanger the resident's health and that dogs and cats have been inoculated for rabies.

v)         Licensed foster homes sheltering homeless youth shall be regulated by the rules contained in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 402 (Licensing Standards for Foster Family Homes) and shall provide the case management, notification and referral services required by this Part either directly or through the administration over the licensed foster home.

(Source:  Amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 17066, effective November 1, 2000)