Add §366-a, amd §353, Exec L; amd §99-v, St Fin L; amd §20, Soc Serv L; amd §§7.07 & 19.07, Ment Hyg L
Directs the division of veterans' affairs to establish the veterans' housing program to ensure homeless veterans are being housed under federal housing first principles.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8124
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 31, 2017
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HUNTER -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs
AN ACT to amend the executive law, the state finance law, the social
services law, and the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing
the veterans' housing program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 366-a
2 to read as follows:
3 § 366-a. Veterans' housing. 1. As used in this section: a. "Veteran"
4 means a resident of this state, who has served in the active military,
5 naval or air service of the United States or the national guard and who
6 has been released from such service without regard to the duration of
7 service or manner of discharge, or citizenship.
8 b. "Transitional housing" means temporary housing for veterans and
9 shall include bridge housing and service-intensive transitional housing.
10 c. "Bridge housing" means transitional housing in which a veteran may
11 await permanent housing placement. No veteran shall be required to spend
12 more than ninety days in bridge housing.
13 d. "Service-intensive housing" means transitional housing in which
14 veterans are provided support and resources to actively seek permanent
15 housing. Service-intensive housing shall provide veterans with general-
16 ized case-management, clinically appropriate care, and job training.
17 e. "Permanent housing" means long-term housing and shall not include
18 bridge housing or service-intensive housing. Permanent housing may be
19 supported through a local, state, or federal housing program.
20 f. "Homeless" means a person who is undomiciled or unsheltered, and is
21 unable to secure permanent or stable housing without special assistance,
22 as determined by the division.
23 2. There is hereby established within the division a veterans' housing
24 program to be developed and implemented by the state director in consul-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11443-01-7
A. 8124 2
1 tation with the division of housing and community renewal, the office
2 for temporary disability assistance, the office of mental health, and
3 the office for alcoholism and substance abuse services. Such program
4 shall provide housing placement to any veteran who is experiencing
5 unsheltered homelessness, and who requests such assistance.
6 3. The division shall establish a system to identify homeless veterans
7 in New York state and shall engage in outreach services to homeless
8 veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness in order to promote the
9 veterans' housing program and to provide housing services to such veter-
10 ans.
11 4. The division shall provide immediate housing to every homeless
12 veteran who requests to be housed. Such housing may be transitional
13 housing or permanent housing and shall not be contingent on sobriety,
14 minimum income requirements, absence of a criminal record, or any other
15 conditions deemed unnecessary by the state director.
16 a. Long-term service-intensive housing shall only be provided in
17 limited instances and only when the veteran specifically chooses to
18 remain in service-intensive housing despite the availability of perma-
19 nent housing. Any veteran who chooses long-term service-intensive hous-
20 ing shall be provided a monthly review of all available services and
21 housing options.
22 b. Absent a veteran's choice to remain in service-intensive housing,
23 all homeless veterans shall be placed in permanent housing at the first
24 available opportunity using the housing first principles established by
25 the United States department of housing and urban development.
26 § 2. Subdivision 4 of section 99-v of the state finance law, as added
27 by chapter 428 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
28 4. Moneys of the fund shall be expended only for the assistance and
29 care of homeless veterans, for housing and housing-related expenses, as
30 provided in section three hundred sixty-six-a of the executive law, and
31 as determined by the division of [veterans] veterans' affairs.
32 § 3. Section 353 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
33 subdivision 7-c to read as follows:
34 7-c. The division shall consult with the division of housing and
35 community renewal, the office of temporary disability assistance, the
36 office of mental health, and the office of alcoholism and substance
37 abuse services to establish and provide housing services to homeless
38 veterans pursuant to section three hundred sixty-six-a of this article.
39 The division may consult with members of the community devoted to help-
40 ing veterans obtain housing, employment and general services for the
41 same purpose.
42 § 4. Section 20 of the social services law is amended by adding a new
43 subdivision 9 to read as follows:
44 9. The office of temporary and disability assistance shall consult
45 with the state director of the division of veterans' affairs, the
46 commissioner of the division of housing and community renewal, the
47 commissioner of the office of temporary disability assistance, the
48 commissioner of the office of mental health, and the commissioner of the
49 office of alcoholism and substance abuse services to establish and
50 provide housing services to homeless veterans pursuant to section three
51 hundred sixty-six-a of the executive law.
52 § 5. Section 7.07 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new
53 subdivision (g) to read as follows:
54 (g) The office shall consult with the state director of the division
55 of veterans' affairs, the commissioner of the division of housing and
56 community renewal, the commissioner of the office of temporary disabili-
A. 8124 3
1 ty assistance, and the commissioner of the office of alcoholism and
2 substance abuse services to establish and provide housing services to
3 homeless veterans pursuant to section three hundred sixty-six-a of the
4 executive law.
5 § 6. Section 19.07 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a
6 new subdivision (l) to read as follows:
7 (l) The office shall consult with the state director of the division
8 of veterans' affairs, the commissioner of the division of housing and
9 community renewal, the commissioner of the office of temporary disabili-
10 ty assistance, and the commissioner of the office of mental health to
11 establish and provide housing services to homeless veterans pursuant to
12 section three hundred sixty-six-a of the executive law.
13 § 7. This act shall take effect immediately.
