What's happening
This bill allows certain New York housing assistance programs to be available to all individuals, regardless of immigration status.
Why it matters
Expands access to housing assistance. By explicitly overriding federal immigration status restrictions, this bill ensures that undocumented immigrants and other non-citizens can qualify for certain New York housing aid programs, addressing a major barrier faced by vulnerable populations.
Targets large urban areas. The bill specifically applies to local social services districts with populations over five million—effectively, New York City—potentially impacting a significant portion of the state’s immigrant community.
Directs state funding for broader eligibility. State funds can now reimburse local districts for providing shelter supplements to all eligible families and individuals, regardless of immigration status, making it easier for localities to offer these expanded benefits without running afoul of federal law.
Aims to prevent homelessness and eviction. By raising the allowable shelter supplement up to federal fair market rent levels, the legislation is designed to help families avoid eviction and homelessness, particularly in high-cost housing markets.
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Who cares
Immigrant families and individuals in New York City
The bill would allow those otherwise eligible for the city housing program specified in the bill, or its successor, to participate despite federal immigration-status restrictions.
New York City social services administrators
The bill would permit the district to expand program eligibility and administer it under an approved plan.
New York State social services officials
The bill would require authorization of state shelter-supplement funds to reimburse the city, subject to a priority for certain rental costs under the family homelessness and eviction prevention supplement.
Families receiving homelessness and eviction prevention supplements
The bill would require those funds to first reimburse rental costs above the maximum rent levels in place on January 1, 2021, up to federal fair market rent levels.
Headline styles
Allow Housing Aid for Immigrants
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- 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.
Open Housing to All
In Senate Committee · Social Services · Sponsor Brian Kavanagh
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1503
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 10, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, FORREST -- read once and referred to the Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to making certain housing programs available regardless of immigration status
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 131-bbb to read as follows:
§ 131-bbb. Local social services housing programs in accordance with subsection d of 8 U.S.C. 1621. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, for a local social services district with a population of five million or more, the commissioner shall permit such district to make the program set forth in chapter ten of title sixtyeight of the rules of the city of New York, or any successor program, available to families and individuals who would be eligible but for such federal law restricting eligibility for such benefits based on immigration status; and to administer the program in accordance with a plan approved pursuant to 18 N.Y.C.R.R. § 352.3(a)(3).
2. Funds appropriated by New York state for services and expenses of a program to provide shelter supplements at local option to individuals and families regardless of immigration status shall be authorized by the department to reimburse a local social services district with a population of five million or more to fund the program set forth in subdivision one of this section pursuant to the approved plan provided that funds are first used to reimburse rental costs above the maximum rent levels in place as of January first, two thousand twenty-one up to the United States department of housing and urban development's fair market rent level for the family homelessness and eviction prevention supplement pursuant to section one hundred thirty-one-bb of this title.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02337-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.