File #: Int 0816-2026    Version: * Name: Limiting the documentation of housing history required as part of an application for shelter by a family with children.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on General Welfare
On agenda: 4/16/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to limiting the documentation of housing history required as part of a family's application for shelter
Sponsors: Amanda C. Farías, Gale A. Brewer, Crystal Hudson, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Harvey D. Epstein, Pierina Ana Sanchez, Farah N. Louis, Shanel Thomas-Henry
Council Member Sponsors: 8
Summary: This bill would bar the Department of Homeless Services from requiring that families applying for shelter provide any documentation to verify their housing history other than a written attestation that the housing history they provided in their application is accurate.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 816, 2. Int. No. 816, 3. April 16, 2026 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No. 816

 

By Council Members Farías, Brewer, Hudson, Brooks-Powers, Epstein, P. Sanchez, Louis and Thomas-Henry

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to limiting the documentation of housing history required as part of a family’s application for shelter

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 3 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-335 to read as follows:

§ 21-335 Housing history attestation a. Definitions. As used in this subchapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

Family. The term “family” means an adult family, as defined by subdivision e of section 491.2 of title 18 of the New York codes, rules and regulations, or a family with children, as defined by section 900.2 of title 18 of the New York codes, rules and regulations.

Shelter. The term “shelter" has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision a of section 21-334.

b. As part of an application for shelter by a family, the department shall not require the family to provide any documentation to verify the housing history the family provides in the application other than a written attestation that the housing history is accurate.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law.

 

SSA

LS #18844/18846

04/10/26 12:00 PM