Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 24 - Mental Health
Part 2 - Operational Standards for Mental Health, Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Community Service Providers
Chapter 28 - Community Living Services for People with Serious Mental Illness
Rule 24-2-28.2 - Environment and Safety for Supervised Living Services for Serious Mental Illness

A. Supervised Living Services locations must, to the maximum extent possible, duplicate a "home-like" environment.

B. All locations must have furnishings that are safe, up-to-date, comfortable, appropriate, and adequate. Furnishings, to the greatest extent possible, are chosen by the people currently living in the home.

C. All agency providers must provide access to a washer and dryer in the home, apartment, or apartment complex and must ensure the laundry room or area has an exterior ventilation system for the clothes dryer free from excessive lint and dust accumulation.

D. Agency providers must develop policies regarding pets and animals on the premises. Animal/Pet policies must address, at a minimum, the following:

E. Bedrooms must not have windows over forty-four (44) inches off the floor if identified as a means of egress. All windows at all levels must be operable.

F. Bedrooms must meet the following dimension requirements:

G. Bedrooms must be appropriately furnished with a minimum of a single bed, chest of drawers, appropriate lighting and adequate storage/closet space for each person.

H. Bedrooms must be located so as to minimize the entrance of unpleasant odors, excessive noise, or other nuisances.

I. Beds must be provided with a good grade of mattress which is at least four (4) inches thick on a raised bed frame. Cots or roll-away beds may not be used.

J. Each bed must be equipped with a minimum of one (1) pillow and case, two (2) sheets, spread, and blanket(s). An adequate supply of linens must be available to change linens at least once a week or sooner if the lines become soiled.

K. People have the freedom to furnish and decorate their own rooms in compliance with any lease restrictions that may be in place regarding wall color, wall hangings, etc.

L. All service locations must have a bathroom with at least one (1) operable toilet, one (1) operable lavatory/sink and one (1) operable shower or tub for every six (6) people.

M. All service locations must ensure bathtubs and showers are equipped with:

N. Each person must be provided at least two (2) sets of bath linens, including bath towels, hand towels, and wash cloths.

O. All Supervised Living Services locations of two (2) stories or more in height where people are housed above the ground floor must be protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system and a fire alarm and detection system.

P. Auditory smoke/fire alarms with a noise level loud enough to awaken people must be located in each bedroom, hallways and/or corridors, and common areas.

Q. Residential facilities using fuel burning equipment and/or appliances (i.e., gas heater, gas water heater, etc.) must have carbon monoxide alarms/detectors placed in a central location outside of sleeping areas.

R. Each bedroom must have at least two (2) means of egress.

S. The exit door(s) nearest people's bedrooms must not be locked in a manner that prohibits ease of egress.

T. People must not have to travel through any room not under their control (i.e., subject to locking) to reach designated exit, visiting area, dining room, kitchen, or bathroom.

U. All agency providers must ensure visiting areas are provided for people and visitors, and each visiting area must have at least two (2) means of egress.

V. All service locations must have separate storage areas for:

W. All service locations must ensure an adequate, operable central heating and cooling system is provided to maintain temperature between sixty-eight (68) degrees and seventy-eight (78) degrees Fahrenheit.

X. The setting is integrated in and supports full access to the community to the same extent as people not receiving Supervised Living Services.