Int. No. 1481
By Council Member Hudson
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a financial assistance program for in-home preventative adaptations
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 2 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-218 to read as follows:
§ 21-218. Preventative adaptations financial assistance program. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Area median income. The term "area median income" means the income limits as defined annually by the United States department of housing and urban development (HUD) for the New York, NY HUD Metro FMR Area (HMFA), as established in section 3 of the housing act of 1937, as amended.
Disability. The term "disability" means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of an individual.
Low-income household. The term “low-income household” means a household that has an income of no more than 80 percent of the area median income, adjusted for the size of the household.
Older adult. The term “older adult” means a person aged 60 years or older.
Preventative adaptation. The term “preventative adaptation” means an accessibility modification to a dwelling unit for the purpose of reducing the risk of falls or to ameliorate mobility issues and enhance independent living, including but not limited to furniture risers, handrails, grab bars, shower seats, stair lifts, and ramps.
b. Subject to appropriation, the department, in coordination with the office for people with disabilities, shall administer a program to provide financial assistance in an amount not to exceed $10,000 per person to older adults and individuals aged 18 years or older with disabilities for the purpose of installing preventative adaptations.
c. The department may provide such financial assistance to an older adult or individual aged 18 years or older with a disability who submits an application for financial assistance to the department, provided that such application includes the following documentation, as further prescribed by department rulemaking:
1. Proof of the applicant’s principal place of residence and ownership of such residence;
2. Proof of a disability, if applicable; and,
3. Records illustrating that the applicant is a member of a low-income household.
d. The department shall post on its website, and update as appropriate, information on the financial assistance program, including but not limited to eligibility for such program, application instructions, and required documentation.
e. The department shall provide written notification to an applicant of approval or denial of a financial assistance application within 60 days after receipt of a completed application. If an application is denied, the department shall include the reason for the denial.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 1 year after it becomes law.
APM
LS #19601
11/13/25 10:31am