What's happening
The bill allows community centers in New York City Housing Authority facilities to apply for nonprofit infrastructure capital investment program funding.
Why it matters
Expands funding opportunities. By making NYCHA-based community centers eligible for the nonprofit infrastructure capital investment program, the bill allows these centers to access funds previously unavailable to them, which could be used for vital physical improvements or equipment.
Supports underserved communities. Many NYCHA residents have limited access to updated community spaces. This funding could help address long-standing disparities in service quality and infrastructure between public housing facilities and other neighborhoods.
Strengthens nonprofits’ ability to serve. Community centers in public housing often serve as hubs for after-school programs, senior activities, and social services; increased funding can directly improve the quality and reach of these programs.
Potential for broader community impact. Upgrading community centers can foster stronger neighborhood ties, provide safer and more engaging environments for youth, and support social cohesion in NYCHA developments.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Fund Community Centers in NYCHA
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Fund Community Centers in Housing
In Assembly Committee · Housing · Sponsor Andrew Hevesi
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6005
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 16, 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 making certain community centers eligible for nonprofit infrastructure capital investment program awards
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 402-e to read as follows:
§ 402-e. Community center funding. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a community center physically located within a New York city housing authority facility shall be eligible to apply for and receive funding from the nonprofit infrastructure capital investment program.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11244-01-9
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 making certain community centers eligible for nonprofit infrastructure capital investment program awards
Summary of provisions
This bill amends the public housing law by adding a new section 402-e allowing a community center physically located within a New York City Housing Authority facility to be eligible to apply for and receive fund- ing from the nonprofit infrastructure capital investment program.
Justification
This bill would allow nonprofits which provide vital social services for children, youth, and seniors in NYCHA-owned facilities to access infras- tructure funding through the nonprofit infrastructure capital investment program for the purpose of building or property maintenance or improve- ments, structural maintenance or improvements, or building systems main- tenance or improvements.
Across New York City, NYCHA owns 36 standalone community centers and 202 community facilities located within residential buildings. Nonprofits occupy many of these spaces, running EarlyLearn programs, providing afterschool services, offering meals and activities for seniors, provid- ing arts education, and training for employment. However, the physical infrastructure of the centers and community facilities have become so dilapidated that it is frequently unsafe for them to open to the public. Service provision is regularly halted for extended periods of time, to the detriment of the families and individuals these centers are intended to serve.
According to NYCHA's 2017 physical needs assessment, the total 5-year capital need for the 36 standalone community centers and the 202 commu- nity facilities located within residential buildings is $489 million. NYCHA is unable to address the needs of these centers and community facilities because their resources have gone towards the remediation of toxic lead and mold in the residential units as well as other safety and quality-of-life concerns. Given the backlog in the work to perform these repairs and abatements, these community centers are unlikely to see investment from NYCHA for years, or even decades.
Out of recognition of the urgency of the situation, NYCHA has agreed to establish an expedited process to approve project plans-including build- ing or property maintenance or improvements, structural maintenance or improvements, or building systems maintenance or imp rovements-initiated and executed by the nonprofits that occupy these centers and community facilities. This expedited approval process will be moot without addi- tional financial resources for these projects.
The nonprofit infrastructure capital investment program was established in YEAR to address the unmet capital needs facing nonprofit-ogerated community spaces throughout the State. However, this funding has histor- ically been unavailable to nonprofits operating in NYCHA-owned facili- ties, despite these facilities facing some of the most severe building repair needs.
For these reasons, the nonprofit infrastructure capital investment program should be amended to allow its funds to go to this purpose.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None. This bill expands eligibility for an existing fund.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth 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.