Int. No. 210
By Council Members Hanif, Restler, Gutiérrez, De La Rosa, Hudson, Sanchez, Nurse, Won, Avilés, Rivera, Krishnan, Marte, Brewer, Ayala, Cabán, Ossé, Salaam, Abreu, Farías, Banks, Joseph and the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams) (in conjunction with the Brooklyn Borough President)
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the department of social services or any other city agency from imposing length of shelter stay restrictions in a shelter of any type
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-152 to read as follows:
§ 21-152 Prohibition on length of shelter stay limitations. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Emergency congregate housing. The term “emergency congregate housing” means any location operated by an agency or provider under contract or similar agreement with an agency, except for any location operated by the department or by a provider under contract or similar agreement with the department, where individuals and families reside for more than 96 hours and where such individuals and families sleep in a congregate setting with shared facilities, including but not limited to, sleeping quarters and bathrooms.
Homeless youth. The term “homeless youth” has the same meaning as provided in section 532-a of the executive law. For the purposes of this section, the term “homeless youth” shall also include homeless young adults.
Homeless young adults. The term “homeless young adult” has the same meaning as provided in section 531-a of the executive law.
Shelter. The term “shelter” means temporary housing assistance provided to homeless adults, adult families, families with children, and runaway and homeless youth by the city or a provider under contract or similar agreement with the city.
b. No agency shall impose limits on the length of time an individual or family may reside in shelter or emergency congregate housing. To reside in shelter operated by the department or a provider under contract or similar agreement with the department, an individual or family must maintain eligibility for temporary housing assistance pursuant to section 352.35 of title 18 of the New York codes, rules and regulations.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.
Session 13
LS #14056
1/25/24
Session 12
DR
LS #14056
9/20/2023