Int. No. 959
By Council Members Ariola, Brooks-Powers, Gutiérrez, Yeger, Banks, Narcisse, Holden, Williams, Schulman, Hanks, Zhuang, The Speaker (Council Member Adams), Nurse, Joseph, Rivera, Hudson, Paladino, Marmorato, Vernikov, Borelli and Carr
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to providing rental assistance to homeless veterans
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Title 31 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 31-117 to read as follows:
§ 31-117 Rental assistance for homeless veterans. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Homeless. The term “homeless” has the same meaning as set forth in section 91.5 of title 24 of the code of federal regulations regarding definitions applicable to federal regulations on consolidated submissions for community planning and development programs, or a successor provision.
Maximum rental allowance. The term “maximum rental allowance” means the maximum rent toward which rental assistance may be applied.
Rental assistance. The term “rental assistance” means a city-initiated rental housing subsidy.
Veteran. The term “veteran” has the same meaning as set forth in section 3101 of the charter.
b. Rental assistance program established. The commissioner, in coordination with the commissioner of social services, shall establish a program through which homeless veterans may apply to the commissioner for, and the commissioner shall provide subject to the requirements and conditions set forth in this section, monthly rental assistance.
c. Amount of monthly rental assistance. 1. The commissioner shall ensure that the amount of the monthly rental assistance provided to a homeless veteran through the program established under this section is in an amount equal to such homeless veteran’s actual monthly housing rent, provided that such amount does not exceed the monthly maximum rental allowance as set forth in subdivision d of this section.
2. The commissioner shall not require a homeless veteran to contribute from such homeless veteran’s income toward such homeless veteran’s housing rent in order to receive such monthly rental assistance.
d. Maximum rental allowances. The commissioner shall set maximum rental allowances for the program established under this section in accordance with section 982.503 of title 24 of the code of federal regulations regarding voucher payment standard amounts, or a successor provision.
e. Eligibility. 1. To be eligible for rental assistance through the program established under this section, a homeless veteran must:
(a) Have a gross income that does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level as established annually by the United States department of health and human services;
(b) Not currently be receiving a housing subsidy through another city, state of New York, or federal program; and
(c) Be a city resident.
2. The commissioner shall not base eligibility for such rental assistance on a homeless veteran’s employment status or source of income. The commissioner shall not require a homeless veteran to have resided or reside in temporary emergency housing of any type in order to be eligible for such rental assistance.
f. Reassessment and disqualification. 1. The commissioner shall periodically reassess the eligibility of homeless veterans who receive rental assistance through the program established under this section.
2. The commissioner shall discontinue such rental assistance under the following conditions:
(a) If the homeless veteran receiving such rental assistance no longer meets any of the eligibility criteria set forth in paragraph 1 of subdivision e of this section; or
(b) If the homeless veteran receiving such rental assistance secures permanent housing that does not require such homeless veteran to make housing rental payments.
g. Outreach. Within 15 days after the effective date of the local law that added this section and continuing thereafter, the commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of social services, shall conduct outreach to landlords and homeless veterans in English and each of the designated citywide languages, as such term is defined in section 23-1101, concerning the program established under this section.
h. Rules. The commissioner shall promulgate rules necessary for the implementation of this section.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law. JL
LS #16149
6/11/2024 10:24 AM