What's happening
This bill requires New York City's Department of Homeless Services to notify community boards at least 60 days before opening or expanding transitional housing.
Why it matters
Increases transparency and community involvement. by requiring detailed advance notice to local community boards before any new or expanded transitional housing for homeless individuals is established, ensuring neighborhoods are not caught off guard.
Mandates disclosure of key details. such as the facility address, number of occupants, service providers, type of housing, services offered, and rationale for site selection—which allows for informed public discussion and oversight.
Covers all transitional housing projects. regardless of size or operator, meaning even small or privately-run facilities must comply, potentially affecting a wide range of housing initiatives and providers.
Could impact project timelines and planning. for the Department of Homeless Services and service providers by adding a required 60-day notification period, possibly slowing the speed at which new housing can be opened or expanded in response to urgent needs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Notify Community on Homeless Housing
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 32
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to cities
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.
Notify Community of Homeless Shelters
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Michael Blake
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7025
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2020
Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cities
AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the Department of Homeless Services to notify the affected community board prior to locating transitional housing for the homeless
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-324 to read as follows:
§ 21-324 Community notification requirement. 1. When the department intends to use a new location as transitional housing for eligible homeless families and individuals, or expand an existing location where transitional housing is provided, the commissioner shall provide notification in writing to the community board for the community district in which the transitional housing will be located. Such notice shall be provided at least sixty days before the department enters into a contractual arrangement with a transitional housing provider or otherwise finalizes its decision to use or expand a location as transitional housing.
2. The notification shall include the address of the transitional housing, the number of people who will be housed, the name of the person or entity operating the transitional housing, the name of any organization, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, that will be providing services to the occupants of the transitional housing, the type of transitional housing, a description of the services that will be provided, the rationale for choosing such location, and an approximate schedule for when such transitional housing will be used or expanded.
3. This section shall apply to any transitional housing facility operated or contracted for, by or on behalf of the department, regardless of its size and capacity.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08799-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the Department of Homeless Services to notify the affected community board prior to locating transitional housing for the homeless
Purpose or general idea of bill
To ensure that community leaders and residents are aware of the poten- tial changes in their area as to allow for their input and partic- ipation.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one of this bill requires the commissioner to provide written notification to the community board, the offices of all elected leaders who have jurisdiction over that area, and neighboring Tenant Association presidents. It specifies that this written notification should provide a set of details including but not limited to the address of the potential project, a description of services that would be provided, and an amount-estimate of persons from that borough that would be housed under the proposed project.
Section two of this bill provides that this act shall take effect imme- diately.
Justification
While understanding that there is a Homelessness crisis in our city and state, we must ensure that residents and community leader have an oppor- tunity to be fully aware of a potential effort. Notifying these parties in advance will give them an adequate amount of time to learn of the initiative, understand any concerns and discuss the path forward so that the community is fully apart of the process The current Department of Homeless Services' proposal of a seven-day notification is insufficient for creating an inclusive and collaborative process the community can engage in.
Prior legislative history
2019: A.4824 - Ordered to third reading
2015: S.5275 - 3rd Reading Calendar / A.6879 Referred to Rules
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
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.