What's happening
This bill creates a grant program to support resident assistance services in affordable independent senior housing across New York State.
Why it matters
Targets the most vulnerable seniors. The program is specifically designed for independent seniors aged 60+ with low incomes (household income no more than 60% of area median), aiming to address the needs of a population often at risk of isolation, health challenges, and housing insecurity.
Promotes independence without triggering stricter regulation. By explicitly excluding services that would require properties to be licensed as adult care or assisted living facilities, the bill supports aging-in-place and healthy living without imposing higher regulatory burdens that can increase costs or reduce housing options.
Balances support across rural and urban communities. The law mandates a 60/40 split of funds between urban and rural areas, ensuring that seniors in less densely populated regions—which often have fewer resources—are not left behind.
Requires stakeholder input and transparency. Before grants are issued, the Department of Health must consult with stakeholders and publicly document decisions on what types of assistance are permissible, fostering accountability and ensuring that the program meets real-world needs without regulatory overreach.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Help Seniors Afford Apartments
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 26
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- 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.
Help for Senior Housing
In Assembly Committee · Housing · Sponsor Steven Cymbrowitz
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4538
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 14, 2019
Introduced by Sens. KAVANAGH, LITTLE, FUNKE, KENNEDY, KRUEGER, SEPULVE- DA, STAVISKY -- 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 private housing finance law, in relation to establishing an affordable independent senior housing assistance program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The private housing finance law is amended by adding a new article 29-A to read as follows:
ARTICLE XXIX-A
AFFORDABLE INDEPENDENT SENIOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Section 1265. Affordable independent senior housing assistance program.
§ 1265. Affordable independent senior housing assistance program. 1. Establishment. The commissioner, in conjunction with the commissioner of health, shall develop an affordable independent senior housing assistance program, which shall provide grants within amounts appropriated or otherwise available therefor to affordable independent senior housing properties to establish and operate resident assistance programs. The grants shall be distributed by the commissioner of health.
2. Definitions. For purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (a) "affordable independent senior housing property" shall mean apartment buildings or apartment complexes occupied by individuals over sixty years of age, who live independently and at least eighty percent of whom have a total household income that does not exceed sixty percent of the area median income; and
(b) "resident assistance" shall mean support offered to residents of affordable independent senior housing properties to help promote healthy living by extending independence and improving quality of life.
3. Assistance. Resident assistance shall be determined by the commissioner of health; provided however, that the provision of such assist-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08339-01-9
S. 4538 2
ance shall not include any services or assistance that requires the property to be licensed as an adult care facility pursuant to article seven of the social services law or an assisted living residence pursuant to article forty-six-B of the public health law. Prior to issuing any grants pursuant to this article, the department of health shall solicit input from various stakeholders to determine what would constitute assistance to ensure that such assistance would not require such licensure. A summary of such input and the determination by the department of health as to whether the assistance provided by the grant applicant would require licensure as an adult care facility or assisted living residence shall be in writing and shared with the various stakeholders prior to the approval of any grants pursuant to this section.
4. Allocation. Sixty percent of the total funds awarded pursuant to this article in any fiscal year shall be allocated to projects located in urban areas of the state, as such term is defined in subdivision four of section twelve hundred thirty-one of this chapter. Forty percent of the total funds awarded pursuant to this article in any fiscal year shall be allocated to projects located in rural areas of the state, as such term is defined in subdivision three of section twelve hundred thirty-one of this chapter. Any funds appropriated or otherwise available therefor for the program may be transferred to the department of health. A portion of any amounts appropriated or otherwise available therefor may be used by the commissioner of health to administer the program.
§ 2. 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 private housing finance law, in relation to establishing an affordable independent senior housing assistance program
Purpose
Establishes the Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program to be administered by the Division of Housing and Community Renewal and the Department of Health.
Summary of provisions
Section 1260 establishes the Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program to be developed by the Division of Housing and Commu- nity Renewal in conjunction with the Department of Health.
The Program shall serve residents sixty years of age, or older, with a household income not to exceed 80% of the area median income. Resident assistance includes optional support services, defined by the Department of Health, that promote independent living. No such services shall include activities that would require licensure as an adult care facili- ty, or assisted living residence.
Sixty percent of the total funds awarded shall be allocated to projects located in urban areas of the state, and forty percent in rural areas. Funding appropriated for the purposes of this program may be transferred to the Department of Health, and a portion may be retained for program administration.
Justification
The enacted FY 2017-18 State Budget provided $125 million in capital appropriations over five years, for 100% affordable and independent senior housing projects serving residents sixty years of age, or older. This program would complement the State's capital investment in afforda- ble and independent senior housing, by providing residents with optional services that would further promote independent living. It will advance opportunities for seniors to live in the most integrated setting appro- priate to their individual needs and preferences, while also deterring unwarranted institutional care.
Legislative history
2018: S7866A/A10017A - AMENDED AND RECOMMITTED TO FINANCE/referred to housing
Fiscal implications
None. This program would be subject to annual appropriations.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.