Sec. 10. (a) As used in this section, "relative" includes only the parent, stepparent, child, stepchild, sibling, stepsibling, grandparent, stepgrandparent, grandchild, or stepgrandchild of a township assistance applicant.

(b) If an applicant who applies for township assistance or a member of the applicant's household has a relative living in the township who is able to assist the applicant or member of the applicant's household, the township trustee shall, as administrator of township assistance and before granting aid a second time, ask the relative to help the applicant or member of the applicant's household, either with material relief or by furnishing employment.

(c) A township trustee may not use township assistance funds to pay the cost of an applicant's shelter with a relative who is the applicant's landlord if the applicant lives in:

(1) the same household as the relative; or

(2) housing separate from the relative and either:

(A) the housing is unencumbered by mortgage; or

(B) the housing has not been previously rented by the relative to a different tenant at reasonable market rates for at least six (6) months.

(d) If shelter payments are made to a relative of a township assistance applicant on behalf of the applicant or a member of the applicant's household, the trustee may file a lien against the relative's real property for the amount of township shelter assistance granted.

[Pre-1992 Revision Citation: 12-2-1-11.]

As added by P.L.2-1992, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.51-1996, SEC.30; P.L.73-2005, SEC.38.