What's happening
This bill allows individuals receiving rent subsidies under social services law to live with roommates without losing eligibility.
Why it matters
Increases housing flexibility for subsidy recipients. By explicitly allowing individuals to live with roommates, the bill gives recipients more options for finding affordable and suitable housing, which can be crucial in high-rent areas or when trying to avoid homelessness.
Removes a key barrier to independence after foster care. For young adults or families leaving the foster care system, the ability to share housing can make it easier to transition to independent living, maintain stability, and build support networks.
Reduces risk of subsidy loss due to shared living arrangements. Previously, recipients might have risked losing their rent subsidy if they moved in with roommates; this bill eliminates that risk, potentially preventing unnecessary loss of housing assistance.
May help maximize limited public resources. By permitting shared housing, rent subsidies can be more effectively used, possibly allowing more individuals or families to be helped without increasing the overall subsidy amount per household.
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Who cares
Families seeking a child's discharge from foster care
The bill would clarify that recipients of rent subsidies addressing housing barriers to discharge may live with roommates.
Young people leaving foster care for independent living
Those receiving these housing subsidies would have explicit protection for their ability to live with roommates.
Families at risk of a child's entry into foster care
The bill would clarify that recipients of preventive-services rent subsidies may share housing with roommates.
Local social services officials
Officials administering these subsidies would have explicit statutory direction that the subsidy provisions do not limit recipients' ability to live with roommates.
Headline styles
Allow Rent Help for Roommates
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A4258
- Ordered to third reading cal.1008
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to social services
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.
Allow Rent Aid for Roommates
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Andrew Hevesi
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4339
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 7, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to providing rent subsidies to individuals living with roommates
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 5 of section 409-a of the social services law, as amended by chapter 339 of the laws of 1993, is amended to read as follows:
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, where a social services official determines that a lack of adequate housing is the primary factor preventing the discharge of a child or children from foster care including, but not limited to, children with the goal of discharge to independent living, preventive services shall include, in addition to any other payments or benefits received by the family, special cash grants in the form of rent subsidies, including rent arrears, or any other assistance, sufficient to obtain adequate housing. Such rent subsidies or assistance shall not exceed the sum of three hundred dollars per month, shall not be provided for a period of more than three years, and shall be considered a special grant. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit the ability of those using such rent subsidy to live with roommates. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to limit such official's authority to provide other preventive services.
§ 2. Subdivision 7 of section 409-a of the social services law, as added by chapter 83 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
7. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if a social services official determines that a lack of adequate housing is a factor that may cause the entry of a child or children into foster care and the family has at least one service need other than lack of adequate housing, preventive services may include, in addition to any other payments
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01054-01-9
S. 4339 2
or benefits received by the family, special cash grants in the form of rent subsidies, including rent arrears, or any other assistance, sufficient to obtain adequate housing. Such rent subsidies or assistance shall not exceed the sum of three hundred dollars per month, shall not be provided for a period of more than three years, and shall be considered a special grant. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to limit the ability of those using such rent subsidy to live with roommates. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to limit such official's authority to provide other preventive services.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to providing rent subsidies to individuals living with roommates
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill will ensure that the child welfare housing subsidy program is better able to prevent homelessness and address housing instability for families and youth aging out of foster care.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 and 2 of the bill would allow eligible recipients receiving the monthly rent subsidy to be able to live with a roommate.
Section 3 would require the bill to take effect immediately.
Justification
Housing stability and child welfare are inextricably linked. Research has shown a higher rate of homelessness among those involved with the child welfare system than other low-income families and that housing can be a barrier to reunification. "Homeless families are more likely than their non-homeless counterparts to be the focus of a child protective services (CPS) investigation, to have an open child welfare case or to have a child placed out of the home." Furthermore, as documented in a recent U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) report, youth who age out of foster care are at a heightened risk of homeless- ness.
In 1988, New York created the child welfare housing subsidy to help address homelessness and housing instability for families with open child welfare cases and youth aging out of foster care. Specifically, since 1988, the law has authorized local social service districts to provide eligible families and youth with a housing subsidy of up to $300 per month for up to 3 years or until reaching the limit of $10,800. The housing subsidy program is a preventive service, pursuant to State Social Service law and corresponding regulations.
The goal of the child welfare housing subsidy program is to stabilize housing situations and prevent homelessness so as to help prevent foster care placements, expedite reunification, and help youth aging out of foster care. Thus, families with open CPS investigations, families receiving preventive services, families where children are reunifying from foster care, and youth ages 18-21 have been eligible for the hous- ing subsidy.
For families, and even more so for youth, the high cost of housing and the benefit of living with others, often leads most New Yorker s to have roommates. This bill makes it clear that those receiving the child welfare housing subsidy can also have unrelated roommates.
In summary, this step would go a long way towards helping to address the homeless crisis, and will strengthen and support families involved with the child welfare system and youth aging out of foster care.
Prior legislative history
2018: A10734 - Passed Assembly
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall be effective immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.