NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1113
SPONSOR: Stirpe TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public housing law, in relation to establishing
uniform waiting list priorities for domestic violence survivors applying
for public housing
PURPOSE:
Requires statewide housing authorities, in reviewing applicants, to
grant domestic violence survivors the same preference as granted other
prioritized populations, should the authority establish waiting list
preferences. Establishes a standardized definition of domestic violence
when determining applicant eligibility for the preferred population.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the Public Housing Law by adding a new section 62 that
adds domestic violence survivors to the waiting lists priorities for
public housing.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness for women
and their children. In fact, 90% of homeless women report experiencing
severe abuse at some point in their life and 63% identify ,as victims of
domestic and/or sexual violence. The intersection of domestic violence,
housing insecurity, and homelessness is irrefutable. Safe housing can
provide a path to freedom but there are many factors victims of domestic
violence must take into consideration before leaving abusive partners.
Many victims of domestic violence are limited in their relocation
options due to safety concerns. They may also face discrimination in
their search for housing based on their status as a victim of domestic
violence. These factors are compounded by the lack of safe and afforda-
ble housing available in many New York communities. Prioritizing the
needs of domestic violence survivors in need of housing will immeasur-
ably change the lives of survivors and their family members across the
State.
This bill would amend the Public Housing Law by adding domestic violence
survivors to those whose applications would be prioritized by a local
public housing authority and where the victim would continue to suffer
from domestic violence if the individual continued to stay in their
current residence, or if the victim has already left their home due to
domestic violence and is not living in standard permanent replacement
housing.
Therefore, it is imperative that the Legislature pass this bill to
improve and expand access to housing for victims of domestic violence,
breaking down barriers, and enhancing their safety.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2017-18: S.8694 - Referred to Housing, Construction and Community Devel-
opment
2019-20: A.9735/S.2162 - Referred to Housing/passed senate
2021-22: A.3534/S.1681 - Referred to Housing/passed senate
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately and shall apply to local housing authorities upon the addi-
tion of any person to any of the authority's waiting lists.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1113
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 13, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. STIRPE, GALLAGHER, THIELE, GUNTHER, SIMON, AUBRY,
BRAUNSTEIN, JACOBSON, JACKSON -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the public housing law, in relation to establishing
uniform waiting list priorities for domestic violence survivors apply-
ing for public housing
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The public housing law is amended by adding a new section
2 62 to read as follows:
3 § 62. Waiting list priorities; domestic violence. 1. Where a local
4 housing authority establishes applicant preferences on their waiting
5 list, applicants who are victims of domestic violence shall receive the
6 same priority as other disenfranchised populations, such as the disa-
7 bled, the elderly and the homeless, where the victim of domestic
8 violence:
9 (a) will continue to suffer from domestic violence if he or she
10 continues to live in current residence; or
11 (b) has left the residence due to domestic violence and is not living
12 in standard permanent replacement housing.
13 2. For the purposes of this section, victim of domestic violence shall
14 have the same meaning as defined in section four hundred fifty-nine-a of
15 the social services law.
16 3. For applicants on the waiting list with the same preference status,
17 local public housing authorities shall select applicants using the date
18 and time of application, giving priority to applications in the order of
19 which they are received.
20 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to local
21 housing authorities upon the addition of any person to any of the
22 authority's waiting lists.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00206-01-3
