House Homeless Veterans

Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 366-a to read as follows:

§ 366-a. Veterans' housing. 1. As used in this section: a. "Veteran" means a resident of this state, who has served in the active military, naval or air service of the United States or the national guard and who has been released from such service without regard to the duration of service or manner of discharge, or citizenship.

b. "Transitional housing" means temporary housing for veterans and shall include bridge housing and service-intensive transitional housing.

c. "Bridge housing" means transitional housing in which a veteran may await permanent housing placement. No veteran shall be required to spend more than ninety days in bridge housing.

d. "Service-intensive housing" means transitional housing in which veterans are provided support and resources to actively seek permanent housing. Service-intensive housing shall provide veterans with generalized case-management, clinically appropriate care, and job training.

e. "Permanent housing" means long-term housing and shall not include bridge housing or service-intensive housing. Permanent housing may be supported through a local, state, or federal housing program.

f. "Homeless" means a person who is undomiciled or unsheltered, and is unable to secure permanent or stable housing without special assistance, as determined by the division.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD11443-01-7

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2. There is hereby established within the division a veterans' housing program to be developed and implemented by the state director in consultation with the division of housing and community renewal, the office for temporary disability assistance, the office of mental health, and the office for alcoholism and substance abuse services. Such program shall provide housing placement to any veteran who is experiencing unsheltered homelessness, and who requests such assistance.

3. The division shall establish a system to identify homeless veterans in New York state and shall engage in outreach services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness in order to promote the veterans' housing program and to provide housing services to such veterans.

4. The division shall provide immediate housing to every homeless veteran who requests to be housed. Such housing may be transitional housing or permanent housing and shall not be contingent on sobriety, minimum income requirements, absence of a criminal record, or any other conditions deemed unnecessary by the state director.

a. Long-term service-intensive housing shall only be provided in limited instances and only when the veteran specifically chooses to remain in service-intensive housing despite the availability of permanent housing. Any veteran who chooses long-term service-intensive housing shall be provided a monthly review of all available services and housing options.

b. Absent a veteran's choice to remain in service-intensive housing, all homeless veterans shall be placed in permanent housing at the first available opportunity using the housing first principles established by the United States department of housing and urban development.

§ 2. Subdivision 4 of section 99-v of the state finance law, as added by chapter 428 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:

4. Moneys of the fund shall be expended only for the assistance and care of homeless veterans, for housing and housing-related expenses, as provided in section three hundred sixty-six-a of the executive law, and as determined by the division of [veterans] veterans' affairs.

§ 3. Section 353 of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7-c to read as follows:

7-c. The division shall consult with the division of housing and community renewal, the office of temporary disability assistance, the office of mental health, and the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services to establish and provide housing services to homeless veterans pursuant to section three hundred sixty-six-a of this article. The division may consult with members of the community devoted to helping veterans obtain housing, employment and general services for the same purpose.

§ 4. Section 20 of the social services law is amended by adding a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:

9. The office of temporary and disability assistance shall consult with the state director of the division of veterans' affairs, the commissioner of the division of housing and community renewal, the commissioner of the office of temporary disability assistance, the commissioner of the office of mental health, and the commissioner of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services to establish and provide housing services to homeless veterans pursuant to section three hundred sixty-six-a of the executive law.

§ 5. Section 7.07 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new subdivision (g) to read as follows:

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(g) The office shall consult with the state director of the division of veterans' affairs, the commissioner of the division of housing and community renewal, the commissioner of the office of temporary disability assistance, and the commissioner of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services to establish and provide housing services to homeless veterans pursuant to section three hundred sixty-six-a of the executive law.

§ 6. Section 19.07 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new subdivision (l) to read as follows:

(l) The office shall consult with the state director of the division of veterans' affairs, the commissioner of the division of housing and community renewal, the commissioner of the office of temporary disability assistance, and the commissioner of the office of mental health to establish and provide housing services to homeless veterans pursuant to section three hundred sixty-six-a of the executive law.

§ 7. This act shall take effect immediately.