What's happening
This bill requires public housing authorities to give domestic violence survivors the same waiting list priority as other vulnerable groups.
Why it matters
Elevates domestic violence survivors to the same priority as groups like the elderly, disabled, and homeless. , potentially accelerating access to stable housing for those fleeing abuse and addressing a key barrier to leaving dangerous situations.
Applies uniform standards to all local housing authorities in New York. , reducing disparities between municipalities and ensuring that survivors across the state are treated consistently when seeking public housing.
Defines clear eligibility criteria for survivors to qualify for priority. , including those who remain in unsafe situations or have recently fled but lack permanent replacement housing, making it easier for survivors and advocates to understand and access these protections.
Mandates that when multiple applicants share the same high-priority status, selection is based on the order of application. , promoting fairness and transparency in how limited housing resources are allocated.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Prioritize Housing for Survivors
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to housing
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1595
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Prioritize Housing for Abuse Survivors
In Assembly Committee · Housing · Sponsor Albert A. Stirpe
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2162
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BAILEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development
AN ACT to amend the public housing law, in relation to establishing uniform waiting list priorities for domestic violence survivors applying for public housing
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public housing law is amended by adding a new section 62 to read as follows:
§ 62. Waiting list priorities; domestic violence. 1. Where a local housing authority establishes applicant preferences on their waiting list, applicants who are victims of domestic violence shall receive the same priority as other disenfranchised populations, such as the disabled, the elderly and the homeless, where the victim of domestic violence:
(a) will continue to suffer from domestic violence if he or she continues to live in current residence; or
(b) has left the residence due to domestic violence and is not living in standard permanent replacement housing.
2. For the purposes of this section, victim of domestic violence shall have the same meaning as defined in section four hundred fifty-nine-a of the social services law.
3. For applicants on the waiting list with the same preference status, local public housing authorities shall select applicants using the date and time of application, giving priority to applications in the order of which they are received.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to local housing authorities upon the addition of any person to any of the authority's waiting lists.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05651-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public housing law, in relation to establishing uniform waiting list priorities for domestic violence survivors applying for public housing
Purpose or general idea of bill
Requires statewide housing authorities, in reviewing applicants, to grant domestic violence survivors the same preference as granted other prioritized populations, should the authority establish waiting list preferences. Establishes a standardized definition of domestic violence when determining applicant eligibility for the preferred population.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends the public housing law by adding a new section 62 that adds domestic violence survivors to the waiting lists priorities for public housing.
Read the full memo (779 words)
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) states that New York State had the largest absolute increases of homeless individ- uals from 2007 to 2017, with 25,902, or 43%a more people left without homes. In New York City, specifically, domestic violence is the second leading cause of homelessness. Across New York State, domestic violence and sexual assault hotlines received a total number of 305, 979 calls in 2016, a 22% increase from the number in 2015. Cut of 135 organizations across the state that provide some sort of domestic violence services, "housing services" is the least common category. New Destiny Housing states that "60% of domestic violence shelter residents who exited the emergency shelter system in 2011 were unable to secure permanent housing or a transfer to a transitional shelter." This leaves a vulnerable popu- lation out on the streets choosing between returning back to the abuser, often the "income producer" of the family, or remaining homeless. An effective way to combat homelessness is by providing long-term afforda- ble housing; The National Alliance to End Homelessness states that "by connecting people experiencing homelessness to housing and services, they have a platform from which they can addre ss other areas that may have contributed to their homelessness, such as employment, health, and substance abuse."
A dominant, federally funded form of housing assistance administered by the state is the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. With efforts to provide rental assistance and home ownership assistance to very low, income households across the state, the program also targets the fbllowing populations: "senior citizens and disabled persons on fixed incomes, displaced families, and homeless individuals with disabilities." This program, however, does not explicitly extend its services to domestic violence survivors, leaving them without this option to rent or purchase "decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private housing market." Simi- larly, applicants of certain demographics, such as the elderly, disabled and the homeless, may receive priority placement to receive rental assistance; however, as Affordable Housing Online explains it, " LOCAL Offices have leeway in defining this preference, and the specific defi- nition tends to vary greatly by each housing office. Some may require legal documentation, or that the applicant currently lives in a shelter specifically for victims of domestic violence."
In New York City, for instance, the New York City Housing Authority labels survivors of domestic violence with a Ni priority. This follows the NO preference, which includes city agency referrals. In 2016, the Picture of Subsidized Housing database demonstrated that "persons who were issued a voucher in the preceding 12 months waited an average of 29 months on the waiting list." Other housing authorities, such as those in Albany, Ulster County, and Ithaca do not mention survivors of domestic violence as a preferred population, despite placing preference on other populations. This legislation would require the Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) program to provide a uniform definition across local offices to ensure domestic violence survivors receive an equal opportunity for explicit priority status as other populations, such as the aforemen- tioned populations. HUD states that "PHAs may establish local prefer- ences for selecting applicants from its waiting list" ; as such, this legislation gives localities the ability to decide whether or not they do prefer certain populations on the waiting lists over others - such as Mamaroneck Housing Authority, which has no preferred populations; howev- er, if localities do establish preferences, this leg islation would require them to include survivors of domestic violence as a preferred population along with other groups of people they will give priority to. - This legislation provides domestic violence survivors with access to stable, long-term housing across New York State.
Prior legislative history
2017-13: S.3694 - Referred to Housing, Construction and Community Devel- opment
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
Immediately and shall apply to local housing authorities upon the addi- tion of any person to any of the authority's waiting lists.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.