Chapter 7.04 — GENERAL POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES

The following policies and principles govern the delivery of general assistance in Alameda County.

(Ord. No. 2009-25, § 1, 6-9-09)

The general assistance program is county funded and shall be administered by the social services agency of the county ("agency") in accordance with the provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code and this chapter. General assistance shall be provided to individuals who are found eligible by the agency in accordance with such provisions. General assistance is to be administered promptly and humanely and without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, political affiliation, or sex.

(Ord. No. 2009-25, § 1, 6-9-09)

The director of the agency shall adopt regulations and directives necessary to implement and interpret the provisions of this chapter. The director shall review such regulations and directives as often as deemed necessary, and shall adopt any regulations or directives necessary to revise the general assistance program in conformity with the provisions of this chapter in order to meet the needs of recipients and to conserve county funds by implementing any and all measures specified in the Welfare and Institutions Code, including but not limited to the following:

A.

The agency shall implement Section 17000.5 by reducing the standard of aid by forty dollars ($40.00) per month and providing in-kind medical care for that value.

B.

The agency shall implement Section 17001.5 by: (1) adopting a IS-day residency requirement; (2) reducing the standard of aid based upon shared housing; (3) prohibiting an employable individual from receiving aid for more than three months in any twelve-month period, whether the months are consecutive or not, if those recipients have been offered an opportunity to attend job skills or job training sessions; and (4) discontinue aid to, or sanction, recipients for failure or refusal without good cause to follow program requirements as specified by Section 17001.5(a)(5).

(Ord. No. 2009-25, § 1, 6-9-09)

The preferred method of general assistance grant payments is by means other than direct cash/warrant payments to the recipient. However, the decision as to the method of payment for each recipient shall be within the discretion of the agency. The standard of need allowances may be satisfied by voucher or vendor payments directly to landlords and other providers of goods and services, or by aid-in-kind benefits.

(Ord. No. 2009-25, § 1, 6-9-09)