(a) The Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, under the administration of the New York State Department of Social Services, provides State financial assistance to construct or rehabilitate housing for the homeless which may include other nonhousing services such as, but not limited to dining, recreational, sanitary, social, medical and mental disability services as may be deemed by the commissioner to be essential to such a project. This State financial assistance will be provided through direct contracts with municipalities, not-for-profit corporations or charitable organizations, wholly owned subsidiaries of not-for-profit corporations or of charitable organizations, and public corporations for the provision of such housing.

(b) In accordance with the purposes of the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, the commissioner shall make awards to fund a range of projects, which shall include diverse populations, located in a variety of geographical areas, making use of different types and sizes of buildings, supported by innovative support service components, utilizing building plans appropriate to the needs of the population to be served, with emphasis on noninstitutional types of projects, and, where applicable, relying upon a combination of State and other funding sources.

(c) These regulations are issued by the Department of Social Services by authority of, and in order to implement, the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program of 1983, article 2A of the Social Services Law.