Add §6-a, Veterans' Services L; amd §20, Soc Serv L; amd §§7.07 & 19.07, Ment Hyg L
Relates to providing veterans' housing; requires state agencies that provide shelter to homeless veterans to do so based on federal housing first principles without preconditions or barriers.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4218
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 3, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sens. PARKER, ADDABBO, BAILEY, COMRIE -- read twice and
ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, the social services law and
the mental hygiene law, in relation to providing veterans' housing
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The veterans' services law is amended by adding a new
2 section 6-a to read as follows:
3 § 6-a. Veterans' housing. 1. For purposes of this section, the follow-
4 ing terms shall have the following meanings:
5 a. "Transitional housing" means temporary housing for veterans and
6 shall include bridge housing and service-intensive transitional housing.
7 b. "Bridge housing" means transitional housing in which a veteran may
8 await permanent housing placement. No veteran shall be required to spend
9 more than ninety days in bridge housing.
10 c. "Service-intensive housing" means transitional housing in which
11 veterans are provided support and resources to actively seek permanent
12 housing. Service-intensive housing shall provide veterans with general-
13 ized case-management, clinically appropriate care, and job training.
14 d. "Permanent housing" means long-term housing and shall not include
15 bridge housing or service-intensive housing. Permanent housing may be
16 supported through a local, state, or federal housing program.
17 e. "Homeless" means a person who is undomiciled or unsheltered, and is
18 unable to secure permanent or stable housing without special assistance,
19 as determined by the department.
20 f. "Housing first principles" means the approach articulated by the
21 United States department of housing and urban development that prior-
22 itizes placement of homeless individuals in housing without precondi-
23 tions and barriers to entry, such as sobriety, treatment or service
24 participation requirements.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07847-01-5
S. 4218 2
1 2. In consultation with the division of housing and community renewal,
2 the office for temporary disability assistance, the office of mental
3 health, and the office of addiction services and supports, the depart-
4 ment shall ensure that homeless veterans are housed according to federal
5 housing first principles.
6 3. The department shall provide immediate housing to every homeless
7 veteran who requests to be housed. Such housing may be transitional
8 housing or permanent housing and shall not be contingent on sobriety,
9 minimum income requirements, absence of a criminal record, or any other
10 conditions deemed unnecessary by the state director. Long-term service-
11 intensive housing shall only be provided in limited instances and only
12 when the veteran specifically chooses to remain in service-intensive
13 housing despite the availability of permanent housing. Any veteran who
14 chooses long-term service-intensive housing shall be provided a monthly
15 review of all available services and housing options. Absent a veteran's
16 choice to remain in service-intensive housing, all homeless veterans
17 shall be placed in permanent housing at the first available opportunity
18 using federal housing first principles.
19 4. The department shall prepare and publish an annual report on its
20 website detailing the resources, plans, partnerships, and system capaci-
21 ty for housing homeless veterans. The report shall identify all sources
22 of data upon which it relied and shall contain recommendations on how to
23 better provide housing and related services to homeless veterans.
24 § 2. Section 20 of the social services law is amended by adding a new
25 subdivision 9 to read as follows:
26 9. The office of temporary and disability assistance shall consult
27 with the commissioner of veterans' services, the commissioner of the
28 division of housing and community renewal, the commissioner of the
29 office of temporary disability assistance, the commissioner of the
30 office of mental health, and the commissioner of the office of addiction
31 services and supports to provide housing services to homeless veterans
32 pursuant to section six-a of the veterans' services law.
33 § 3. Section 7.07 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new
34 subdivision (i) to read as follows:
35 (i) The office shall consult with the commissioner of veterans'
36 services, the commissioner of the division of housing and community
37 renewal, the commissioner of the office of temporary disability assist-
38 ance, and the commissioner of the office of addiction services and
39 supports to provide housing services to homeless veterans pursuant to
40 section six-a of the veterans' services law.
41 § 4. Section 19.07 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a
42 new subdivision (o) to read as follows:
43 (o) The office shall consult with the commissioner of veterans'
44 services, the commissioner of the division of housing and community
45 renewal, the commissioner of the office of temporary disability assist-
46 ance, and the commissioner of the office of mental health to provide
47 housing services to homeless veterans pursuant to section six-a of the
48 veterans' services law.
49 § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
