(a) A shelter home:
(1) shall provide clients with a temporary residence and necessary counseling to link clients to appropriate community services to stabilize the clients’ living conditions;
(2) shall accept, from the police and other referral sources in the community, clients for temporary shelter;
(3) shall conform to applicable State and local fire codes, health codes, and zoning ordinances; and
(4) is subject to the regulations adopted by the Department.
(b) The Department shall:
(1) establish standards of care and admission policies for shelter homes;
(2) monitor the operation of the shelter homes; and
(3) annually evaluate the effectiveness of the shelter homes.
(c) The Department may contract with private nonprofit organizations to operate the Program.