New York S 4218: Relates to providing veterans' housing

Bill Text

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S04218 Summary:

BILL NOS04218 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORPARKER

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COSPNSRADDABBO, BAILEY, COMRIE

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §6-a, Veterans' Services L; amd §20, Soc Serv L; amd §§7.07 & 19.07, Ment Hyg L

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Relates to providing veterans' housing; requires state agencies that provide shelter to homeless veterans to do so based on federal housing first principles without preconditions or barriers.

Go to top S04218 Actions:

BILL NOS04218 

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02/03/2025REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

01/07/2026REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

Go to topS04218 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS04218 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS04218 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 4218

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 February 3, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sens. PARKER, ADDABBO, BAILEY, COMRIE -- read twice and
 ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
 Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs

 AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, the social services law and
 the mental hygiene law, in relation to providing veterans' housing

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The veterans' services law is amended by adding a new
 2 section 6-a to read as follows:
 3 § 6-a. Veterans' housing. 1. For purposes of this section, the follow-
 4 ing terms shall have the following meanings:
 5 a. "Transitional housing" means temporary housing for veterans and
 6 shall include bridge housing and service-intensive transitional housing.
 7 b. "Bridge housing" means transitional housing in which a veteran may
 8 await permanent housing placement. No veteran shall be required to spend
 9 more than ninety days in bridge housing.
 10 c. "Service-intensive housing" means transitional housing in which
 11 veterans are provided support and resources to actively seek permanent
 12 housing. Service-intensive housing shall provide veterans with general-
 13 ized case-management, clinically appropriate care, and job training.
 14 d. "Permanent housing" means long-term housing and shall not include
 15 bridge housing or service-intensive housing. Permanent housing may be
 16 supported through a local, state, or federal housing program.
 17 e. "Homeless" means a person who is undomiciled or unsheltered, and is
 18 unable to secure permanent or stable housing without special assistance,
 19 as determined by the department.
 20 f. "Housing first principles" means the approach articulated by the
 21 United States department of housing and urban development that prior-
 22 itizes placement of homeless individuals in housing without precondi-
 23 tions and barriers to entry, such as sobriety, treatment or service
 24 participation requirements.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD07847-01-5

 S. 4218 2

 1 2. In consultation with the division of housing and community renewal,
 2 the office for temporary disability assistance, the office of mental
 3 health, and the office of addiction services and supports, the depart-
 4 ment shall ensure that homeless veterans are housed according to federal
 5 housing first principles.
 6 3. The department shall provide immediate housing to every homeless
 7 veteran who requests to be housed. Such housing may be transitional
 8 housing or permanent housing and shall not be contingent on sobriety,
 9 minimum income requirements, absence of a criminal record, or any other
 10 conditions deemed unnecessary by the state director. Long-term service-
 11 intensive housing shall only be provided in limited instances and only
 12 when the veteran specifically chooses to remain in service-intensive
 13 housing despite the availability of permanent housing. Any veteran who
 14 chooses long-term service-intensive housing shall be provided a monthly
 15 review of all available services and housing options. Absent a veteran's
 16 choice to remain in service-intensive housing, all homeless veterans
 17 shall be placed in permanent housing at the first available opportunit