File #: Int 0976-2023    Version: * Name: Requiring the department of homeless services and the department of youth and community development to report data on the LGBTQ homeless population.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Youth Services
On agenda: 3/16/2023
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of homeless services and the department of youth and community development to report data on the LGBTQ homeless population
Sponsors: Althea V. Stevens, Farah N. Louis, Kristin Richardson Jordan, Lincoln Restler, Lynn C. Schulman, Crystal Hudson, Sandra Ung, Diana I. Ayala, Shaun Abreu
Council Member Sponsors: 9
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) to report quarterly on the number of LGBTQ homeless persons who inquire about or seek DHS and DYCD services, as well as the number of shelter beds reserved for such persons, and the rates and reasons, when given, that such beds are refused.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 976, 2. Int. No. 976, 3. March 16, 2023 - Stated Meeting Agenda
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
3/16/2023*Althea V. Stevens City Council Re-referred to Committee by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/16/2023*Althea V. Stevens City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/16/2023*Althea V. Stevens City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Int. No. 976

 

By Council Members Stevens, Louis, Richardson Jordan, Restler, Schulman, Hudson, Ung, Ayala and Abreu

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of homeless services and the department of youth and community development to report data on the LGBTQ homeless population

 

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 21-329 to read as follows:

§ 21-329 Reporting on homeless LGBTQ population. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

                     Adult. The term “adult” means a person over 24 years of age and under 65 years of age.

Drop-in center. The term “drop-in center” means a facility that provides hot meals, showers, laundry facilities, clothing, medical care, recreational space, employment referrals, and/or housing placement services, but not overnight housing administered by the department or a provider under contract or similar agreement with the department.

Homeless young adult. The term “homeless young adult” has the same meaning as provided in section 532-a of the executive law.

Homeless youth. The term “homeless youth” has the same meaning as provided in section 532-a of the executive law.

                     LGBTQ. The term “LGBTQ” means lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex identities.

                     Runaway and homeless youth services. The term “runaway and homeless youth services” means street outreach and referral services, drop-in centers, runaway and homeless youth crisis services programs, and transitional independent living support programs funded by the department of youth and community development.

                     Runaway and homeless youth crisis services programs. The term “runaway and homeless youth crisis services program” has the same meaning as provided in section 532-a of the executive law.

                     Safe haven. The term “safe haven” means city-administered facilities that provide low-threshold, harm-reduction housing to street homeless individuals, who are referred to such facilities through a department outreach program, without the obligation of entering into other supportive and rehabilitative services in order to reduce barriers to temporary housing.

Senior. The term “senior” means a person 65 years of age or older.

Shelter. The term “shelter” means temporary emergency housing provided to homeless adults, adult families, and families with children by the department or a provider under contract or similar agreement with the department.

                     b. Beginning October 1, 2023, and quarterly thereafter, the department shall submit to the speaker of the council and post on its website a report regarding LGBTQ homeless persons. The department shall collaborate with the department of youth and community development to produce such report.

                     c. The report required by subdivision b of this section shall include, but not be limited to, the following information, as may be obtained voluntarily:

                     1. The number of LGBTQ homeless persons who contact the department or the department of youth and community development to inquire about or seek services, disaggregated by:

                     (a) borough; and

                     (b) age, classified as homeless youth, homeless young adult, adult, and senior; and

                     (c) The number and percentage of shelter beds reserved for LGBTQ homeless persons; the number and percentage of such beds that are available; the rate of refusal of such beds; and the reason for each refused bed, if given.

                     2. The department, in collaboration with the department of youth and community development, shall make best efforts to obtain information to prepare the report required in this section, but shall not require any person to provide information for such purposes. Such efforts shall include the provision of voluntary questionnaires at shelters, safe havens, drop-in centers, and runaway and homeless youth crisis services programs.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

 

 

 

 

DR

LS #9795

1/30/2023