What's happening
This bill allows domestic violence shelters to be reimbursed for housing a single eligible individual in double-occupancy rooms.
Why it matters
Supports Shelter Flexibility. By allowing reimbursement for single individuals in double-occupancy rooms, shelters can better utilize available space, reducing situations where rooms go unused due to mismatched occupancy requirements.
Addresses Urgent Safety Needs. Domestic violence victims often need immediate shelter; this measure helps ensure they are not turned away simply because they are alone and only double rooms are available.
Reduces Financial Strain on Shelters. Shelters are often underfunded and may hesitate to house single individuals in double rooms if they can’t be reimbursed; this change helps cover their costs, potentially sustaining or expanding services.
Improves Access for Vulnerable Individuals. The bill may increase the likelihood that single survivors—who might otherwise face barriers to admission—can get critical, timely shelter when fleeing dangerous situations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Shelter Room Reimbursement Approved
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to social services
- 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.
Shelters Reimbursed for Room Differences
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Andrew Hevesi
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5471
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 1, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GOUNARDES -- 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 authorizing certain shelters to be reimbursed for housing a single individual in a room intended for double occupancy
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 131-u of the social services law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any residential program for victims of domestic violence, as defined in section four hundred fifty-nine-a of this chapter, which provides temporary housing assistance to a single individual who meets such program's necessary eligibility requirements, shall be reimbursed for any payment differential for housing a single individual in a room intended for double occupancy.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01076-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to authorizing certain shelters to be reimbursed for housing a single individual in a room intended for double occupancy
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill will provide temporary housing assistance to a single individ- ual who meets the residential program providers' eligibility require- ments for victims of domestic violence as defined in section four hundred fifty nine-a of the social services law, while allowing the program provider to be reimbursed by New York State for any payment differential for housing a single individual in a room intended for double occupancy in order to address the system-wide lack of shelter for single adults.
Summary of provisions
This bill will provide temporary housing assistance to a single individ- ual who meets the residential program providers' eligibility require- ments for victims of domestic violence as defined in section four hundred fifty-nine-a of the social services law, while allowing the program provider to be reimbursed by New York State for any payment differential for housing a single individual in a room intended for double occupancy in order to address the systemwide lack of shelter for single adults.
Justification
The domestic violence emergency shelter system was originally created to provide short-term respite for victims of domestic violence and their families who were fleeing imminent danger. All across New York State, but particularly in New York City, domestic violence shelters were created over several decades to house families rather than single adults. Non-profit providers who operate these shelters are reimbursed by the State (OCFS) per person per night.
This reimbursement from the State is supposed to cover the entire cost of operating those shelters, including rent, utilities, staffing, insur- ance, and other inflationary factors. Any reduction in this reimburse- ment severely impacts the ability of the provider to cover the cost of operating the shelter. As a result, domestic violence emergency shelter providers have major financial disincentives to "downsize" a room/apartment in order to accommodate a smaller family size, including most prominently single adult victims of domestic violence, human traf- ficking, and sexual assault. As a result, single adult victims of these and other crimes have a much more difficult time trying to access domes- tic violence emergency shelters, and instead may be forced to remain in an unsafe situation. This legislation will require the State to preserve the full reimbursement to providers who "downsize" a room configured for a family of two to accommodate a single adult victim of violence, and will therefore help increase systemwide capacity for single adults who otherwise faced serious obstacles to accessing this shelter system.
Prior legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
TBD
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.