What's happening
This bill requires a study and biennial reporting on homeless women veterans in New York, including their children, trauma, and unemployment rates.
Why it matters
Focuses attention on a vulnerable and often overlooked population. by mandating a comprehensive study specifically on homeless women veterans, which can help policymakers better understand their unique challenges and needs.
Examines intersectional issues. such as military sexual trauma, child custody and placement, and unemployment, acknowledging that these factors can compound the difficulties faced by homeless women veterans.
Requires collaboration across multiple state agencies. (Temporary and Disability Services, Labor, Children and Family Services), ensuring that a wide range of expertise and data is brought to bear on the issue.
Mandates transparency and ongoing accountability. by requiring a public report to state leadership and regular biennial updates, making it easier for advocates, lawmakers, and the public to track progress and push for further action.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Homeless Women Veterans
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3031
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 1, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the performance of a study regarding homeless women who are veterans in the state of New York
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 353 of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6-a to read as follows:
6-a. To conduct a study, in consultation with the office of temporary and disability service, department of labor, and office of children and family services to determine the number of homeless women in New York state that are veterans. Such study shall include, but not be limited to: (a) an analysis of female veterans in New York state who are currently homeless, or have been homeless within five years of being released from active duty; (b) data on the number of children of homeless women veterans, including the current placement of such children; (c) cases of military sexual trauma experienced by homeless women veterans while on active duty or during military training; and (d) the unemployment rate for New York state female veterans. The term "children of homeless veterans" shall mean a person who is unmarried and who is under the age of eighteen years, and is the biological or legally adopted child of a female veteran. A written report of such study shall be delivered to the governor, the speaker of the assembly and the temporary president of the senate by June thirtieth, two thousand twenty and such information required pursuant to this subdivision shall be updated every two years. Such report shall be publicly available and posted on the division of veterans affairs website.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09202-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the performance of a study regarding homeless women who are veterans in the state of New York
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill requires the Division of Veterans' Affairs to conduct a study, in consultation with the office of temporary and disability services, department of labor, and office of children and family services to determine the number of homeless women in New York State that are veter- ans.
Summary of provisions
This legislation would require the Division of Veterans' Affairs a study, in consultation with the office of temporary and disability service, department of labor, and office of children and family services to determine the number of homeless women in New York state that are veterans. Such study shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) an analysis of female veterans in New York state who are currently homeless, or have been homeless within five years of being released from active duty;
(b) data on the number of children of homeless women veterans, including the current placement of such children;
(c) cases of military sexual trauma experienced by homeless women veter- ans while on active duty or during military training; and
(d) the unemployment rate for New York state female veterans. The term "children of homeless veterans" shall mean a person who is unmarried and who is under the age of eighteen years, and is the biological or legally adopted child of a female veteran. A written report of such study shall be delivered to the governor, the speaker of the assembly and the tempo- rary president of the senate by June 13, 2021 and such information required pursuant to this subdivision shall be updated every two years. Such report shall be publicly available and posted on the division of veterans affairs website.
Justification
According to the United States Government Accountability Office, women veterans identified as homeless by the Department of Veterans Affairs has increased more than 140%, from 1,350 in fiscal year 2006 to 3,328 in fiscal year 2010.Women veterans are also 4 times more likely than their male counterparts to end up homeless. About 3,400 of these veterans could not access shelter and 1/3 had some sort of disability. These statistics are alarming and become even more distressing when taking into account that many of these women have children and families. Home- less women veterans who are single mothers have a tough time finding adequate shelter, daycare services, and finding gainful employment.
The study and analysis would gather information on the number of home- less women in New York and how many of them have children. The outcome of this study would produce recommendations and solutions to combat this growing problem among women who have served our country.
Prior legislative history
02/01/19 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.