BILL NUMBER: S2441
SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in
relation to establishing a community development financial institution
disability housing program
 
PURPOSE OF BILL:
Requires the office of temporary and disability assistance to conduct a
homelessness study.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill directs the Office of Temporary and Disability
Assistance will conduct a homelessness study. The study will include,
but not be limited to:
* The current shelter allowance and eviction prevention supplements, in
light of increasing costs for housing;
* If the fuel and utilities is contributing to evictions, overcrowding
and homelessness;
* If fuel and utilities is constraining the ability of the private
sector to provide safe and affordable housing to low-income New Yorkers;
* If the requirement that a family is sued for eviction before they can
access a rent supplement program is reasonable considering that it
imposes litigation costs on landlords who are providing affordable hous-
ing, increases state and local costs for court administration leaves
tenants with negative credit that may inhibit their ability to find
employment and secure housing in the near and future, and limits the
program to others in need including those who are forced to move because
of domestic violence.
* If the fuel and utilities is constraining the ability of public hous-
ing authorities to maintain the condition and safety of their buildings;
* If the shelter allowance should be correlated to the HUD Fair Market
Rent levels which are updated annually and based on real housing cost
data;
Section 2 requires that by June 30, 2022, the office will provide a
report to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, temporary president
of the senate, the minority leaders of the senate and assembly and the
chairs of the social services committees in the senate and assembly.
Section 3 is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation is critical to know the true picture of homelessness
across New York State for the Legislature and the Governor to make deci-
sions based on the most accurate information possible to make sure that
childrens and families have a place to call home.
Furthermore, the increasing number of low-income New Yorkers facing the
possible loss of their housing and the challenges of moving families
from homeless shelters into stable housing are greater than ever, this
legislation will give us a true picture of that and give us the tools
necessary to act.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S1490 Comrie
2022: S3591
2017-18: S394 - Corporations
2015-16: S4047 - Corporations
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill will take effect immediately.