(a) The commission, in cooperation with local workforce development boards, shall, for a recipient of financial assistance or nonrecipient parent participating in an employment program under Chapter 31, Human Resources Code:
(1) identify unmet housing needs and assess whether those needs are barriers to the person‘s full participation in the workforce and attainment of financial stability and self-sufficiency; and
(2) develop a service plan that takes into consideration the person’s unmet housing needs.
(b) The commission by rule shall develop and implement a program through which a recipient or a nonrecipient parent identified under Subsection (a) as having unmet housing needs is referred by the commission or local workforce development board to agencies and organizations providing housing programs and services and connected to other housing resources. To provide those referrals and connections, the commission shall establish collaborative partnerships between:
(1) the commission;
(2) local workforce development boards;
(3) municipal, county, and regional housing authorities; and
(4) sponsors of local housing programs and services.

(c) The commission shall ensure that commission and local workforce development board staff members receive training regarding the programs and services offered by agencies and organizations with which the commission establishes partnerships under Subsection (b) and other available housing resources.