What's happening
This bill expands eligibility for rent subsidies to youth discharged from foster care up to age twenty-four.
Why it matters
Helps prevent homelessness among young adults. By extending rent subsidy eligibility to former foster youth up to age 24, the bill aims to address a critical period when many young people struggle with housing stability after leaving the foster care system.
Supports smoother transitions to independence. Young adults often face significant challenges securing stable housing and employment as they age out of foster care. This subsidy extension provides a safety net during the early years of independent living.
May reduce long-term social service costs. By helping former foster youth avoid homelessness and associated crises, the bill could lead to fewer emergency interventions and reduce reliance on other, more costly social services in the future.
Promotes equity for vulnerable populations. Foster youth are disproportionately at risk for housing instability compared to their peers. Expanding rent support recognizes these unique barriers and attempts to level the playing field.
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Who cares
Youth discharged from foster care
The bill would allow rent subsidies or housing assistance up to age 24, while retaining the $725 monthly cap and three-year limit.
Local social services officials
The bill would expand the age eligibility for housing assistance they provide under foster care discharge and prevention provisions.
Foster care providers and independent-living advocates
The bill would extend the age range for housing assistance intended to address inadequate housing that prevents discharge from foster care, including discharge to independent living.
Headline styles
Expand Foster Youth Rent Aid
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to ways and means
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Referred to children and families
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
735
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. HEVESI, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, SIMON, SHIMSKY, FORREST, GIBBS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Children and Families
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to expanding the age range for eligibility for the rent subsidy payable to a foster child living independently
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 5 of section 409-a of the social services law, as amended by section 1 of part BB of chapter 56 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows:
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, where a social services official determines that a lack of adequate housing is the primary factor preventing the discharge of a child or children from foster care including, but not limited to, children with the goal of discharge to independent living, preventive services shall include, in addition to any other payments or benefits received by the family, special cash grants in the form of rent subsidies, including rent arrears, or any other assistance, sufficient to obtain adequate housing. Such rent subsidies or assistance shall not exceed the sum of seven hundred twenty-five dollars per month, shall not be provided for a period of more than three years, may be provided up to age twenty-four for youth discharged from foster care, and shall be considered a special grant. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit the ability of those using such rent subsidy to live with roommates. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to limit such official's authority to provide other preventive services.
§ 2. Subdivision 7 of section 409-a of the social services law, as amended by section 2 of part BB of chapter 56 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01532-01-5
7. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if a social services official determines that a lack of adequate housing is a factor that may cause the entry of a child or children into foster care and the family has at least one service need other than lack of adequate housing, preventive services may include, in addition to any other payments or benefits received by the family, special cash grants in the form of rent subsidies, including rent arrears, or any other assistance, sufficient to obtain adequate housing. Such rent subsidies or assistance shall not exceed the sum of seven hundred twenty-five dollars per month, shall not be provided for a period of more than three years, may be provided up to age twenty-four for youth discharged from foster care, and shall be considered a special grant. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to limit the ability of those using such rent subsidy to live with roommates. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to limit such official's authority to provide other preventive services.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.