(a) The Department of Housing shall, within existing resources of the department, establish a residence mobility counseling program to assist individuals or families in relocating their residences to higher opportunity areas through education and support services. The commissioner may contract with one or more nonprofit corporations to provide such residence mobility counseling. Individuals and families eligible for the residence mobility counseling program shall currently have a certificate or voucher from either: (1) The federal Housing and Urban Development Section 8 program, or (2) the state rental assistance program. For purposes of this subsection, “opportunity areas” means those areas designated as such using opportunity mapping analysis that includes census tract level assessment of educational, economic and neighborhood characteristics, including education data and crime rates. The Department of Housing shall make such opportunity mapping analysis available on the Internet web site of the Department of Housing.

(b) Counseling provided pursuant to this section shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) providing information regarding communities, schools, employment opportunities and community services available in various areas, (2) assisting with locating rental housing that meets the individual's or family's needs, (3) facilitating a relocation by negotiating with the current landlord about the transfer of rental assistance certificates or vouchers, and with the new landlord about security deposits, rental payments and acceptance of rental assistance certificates or vouchers, and (4) acting as a liaison between the individual or family and the landlord to encourage a successful transition and housing stability.

(c) Annually, the Commissioner of Housing shall submit a report on the program to the General Assembly, in accordance with section 8-37qqq.

(P.A. 15-153, S. 1.)