What's happening
This bill allows certain New York housing assistance programs to be available to individuals and families regardless of immigration status.
Why it matters
Expands access to crucial housing support. for undocumented immigrants and mixed-status families, potentially reducing homelessness and housing insecurity among populations previously excluded from these programs.
Shifts certain housing assistance costs to state and local funding. since federal law restricts aid based on immigration status, New York would use its own appropriated funds, impacting state and local budgets but allowing more flexible support.
Targets New York City and similar large districts. (population of five million or more), which are often home to the highest numbers of immigrants and where housing needs and pressures are acute.
Aligns benefit levels with federal housing standards. by setting rental assistance caps up to HUD's fair market rent, helping ensure that aid is sufficient to secure stable housing in high-cost markets.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Open Housing to All
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 27
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Allow Housing Aid for Immigrants
In Assembly Committee · Social Services · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
958
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. KAVANAGH -- 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 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to making certain housing programs available regardless of immigration status
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill authorizes the city of New York to expand eligibility of CityFHEPS, a New York City rental assistance program, to individuals and families regardless of immigration status.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends the social service law, adding a new section 131-bbb to allow individuals within the city of New York to be eligible for CityFHEPS rental assistance regardless of their immigration status. This section also clarifies that money appropriated by the State for the purposes of this program shall be available for this purpose.
Section 2 of the bill sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Federal law provides that undocumented persons may be eligible for public benefits from state and local government if the state enacts a law providing for such eligibility. Enabling the City of New York to provide undocumented persons with vouchers through the City's rental assistance program, CityFHEPS, this bill will reduce the number of people depending on the temporary shelter system.
Prior legislative history
2024: S1631 (Kavanagh) - REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES /A5513 Rosenthal L - referred to social services
2023: S1631 referred to (Kavanagh) - REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES /A5513 Rosenthal L -referred to social services
2022: S9416 referred to (Kavanagh) - REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES /A10510 Rosenthal L -referred to social services
Fiscal implications
Some additional cost for CityFHEPS vouchers, partly or perhaps fully offset by savings in shelter costs.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.