Establishes the housing people and animals together grant program to expand access for co-sheltering people experiencing homelessness and victims of domestic violence with companion animals.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
673
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE(Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing the
housing people and animals together grant program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section
2 45-aa to read as follows:
3 § 45-aa. Housing people and animals together grant program for people
4 experiencing homelessness. 1. As used in this section, the term
5 "co-sheltering" refers to housing accommodations that enable the coex-
6 istence of people and their companion animals in a shelter setting.
7 2. There is hereby established a co-sheltering grant program to be
8 implemented by the office of children and family services and the office
9 of temporary and disability assistance to aid in expanding access to
10 sheltered housing for people experiencing homelessness with companion
11 animals. The program shall provide funding to non-profit organizations
12 and municipal shelters that provide housing to people experiencing home-
13 lessness. The program shall be designed to support the implementation
14 and maintenance of co-sheltering programs that enable such population to
15 gain access to shelter with a companion animal. Funding used to support
16 the program shall be subject to appropriation.
17 3. Funds shall be distributed and made available for expenditure under
18 this section. In determining funding for applicants under the grant
19 program, the following criteria and goals may be considered:
20 (a) The provision of veterinary services to provide essential medical
21 care to animals housed onsite;
22 (b) The renovation of a facility to incorporate a kennel or other
23 needed infrastructural changes to safely house people experiencing home-
24 lessness with companion animals;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02748-01-5
S. 673 2
1 (c) The training of staff and technical assistance related to applica-
2 ble health and hygiene protocol, outreach and partnerships, best prac-
3 tices and policies; and
4 (d) The provision of food, supplies, and equipment to accommodate
5 animals in the shelter.
6 4. In establishing and operating the program, a range of experts shall
7 be consulted including but not limited to, the division of housing and
8 community renewal, providers of housing accommodations for people expe-
9 riencing homelessness, and any other related state agency, municipality
10 or organization.
11 § 2. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 459-bb
12 to read as follows:
13 § 459-bb. Housing people and animals together grant program for
14 victims of domestic violence. 1. As used in this section, the term
15 "co-sheltering" refers to housing accommodations that enable the coex-
16 istence of people and their companion animals in a shelter setting.
17 2. There is hereby established a co-sheltering grant program to be
18 implemented by the office of children and family services and the office
19 of temporary and disability assistance to aid in expanding access to
20 sheltered housing for victims of domestic violence with companion
21 animals. The program shall provide funding to non-profit organizations
22 and municipal shelters that provide housing to victims of domestic
23 violence or people experiencing homelessness. The program shall be
24 designed to support the implementation and maintenance of co-sheltering
25 programs that enable such populations to gain access to shelter with a
26 companion animal. Funding used to support the program shall be subject
27 to appropriation.
28 3. Funds shall be distributed and made available for expenditure under
29 this section. In determining funding for applicants under the grant
30 program, the following criteria and goals may be considered:
31 (a) The provision of veterinary services to provide essential medical
32 care to animals housed onsite;
33 (b) The renovation of a facility to incorporate a kennel or other
34 needed infrastructural changes to safely house people experiencing home-
35 lessness or victims of domestic violence with companion animals;
36 (c) The training of staff and technical assistance related to applica-
37 ble health and hygiene protocol, outreach and partnerships, best prac-
38 tices and policies; and
39 (d) The provision of food, supplies, and equipment to accommodate
40 animals in the shelter.
41 4. In establishing and operating the program, a range of experts shall
42 be consulted including but not limited to, the office for the prevention
43 of domestic violence, the division of housing and community renewal,
44 providers of housing accommodations for people experiencing homeless-
45 ness, organizations serving the needs of victims of domestic violence,
46 and any other related state agency, municipality or organization.
47 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
48 it shall have become a law.
