S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  1383

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 12, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. LENTOL -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. MILLER
  -- read once and referred to the Committee on Social Services

AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to  special  stand-
  ards for shelters for adults

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative intent. Because certain  local  governments  in
New  York state have not developed a comprehensive plan for dealing with
the homeless, they have started the practice of sheltering large numbers
of the homeless in large, single sites that often do not  meet  building
codes.  This  practice  does not benefit either the homeless themselves,
because proper services do not reach them, or the community in which the
shelter is located,  because  its  resources  are  strained  past  their
limits.
  The problem of this practice of warehousing is compounded when instead
of  distributing  smaller  shelters  equally to all communities within a
locality, a  few  communities  are  forced  to  provide  shelter  for  a
disproportionate  number  of  the  homeless.  A  great deal of stress is
placed on the affected community by the presence of people who are not a
natural part of the community's life. Furthermore, the community's abil-
ity  to  deliver  services,  such  as  health  care  and  rehabilitative
services, to large numbers of people is usually limited.
  Cities  in New York must develop a plan for the equitable distribution
of the homeless population among its communities. For instance, each  of
New  York  city's  fifty-nine community boards would be held responsible
for at least one facility in its geographic district which would provide
services and shelter for  approximately  one  hundred  homeless  men  or
women.
  S  2. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 461-u
to read as follows:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD01552-01-5

              

A. 1383                             2

  S 461-U. SPECIAL STANDARDS FOR SHELTERS FOR ADULTS.  ANY  SHELTER  FOR
ADULTS, AS DEFINED IN SECTION TWO OF THIS CHAPTER, WHICH IS CERTIFIED TO
PROVIDE,  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  ARTICLE, TEMPORARY RESIDENTIAL SERVICES TO
ADULTS  OR  ANY  FACILITY  WHICH  IS  OPERATED  BY  A  MUNICIPALITY   OR
NOT-FOR-PROFIT  CORPORATION  FOR  THE  PURPOSE  OF PROVIDING SHELTER AND
SERVICES TO HOMELESS SINGLE ADULTS SHALL, NO LATER  THAN  TWELVE  MONTHS
FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, LIMIT THE SIZE OF ALL NEW SHEL-
TER  FACILITIES  TO  ONE  HUNDRED  CLIENTS PER FACILITY AND RESTRICT THE
GEOGRAPHIC PLACEMENT OF EVERY FACILITY TO NO NEARER THAN A DISTANCE OF A
THREE MILE RADIUS FROM ANY OTHER FACILITY. ANY SHELTER FOR ADULTS  WHICH
IS  CERTIFIED  TO  PROVIDE  SUCH  CARE  AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
SECTION SHALL HAVE TWELVE MONTHS FROM  THE  RECEIPT  OF  SUCH  OPERATING
CERTIFICATE  TO  PHASE  DOWN THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS HOUSED TO ONE HUNDRED
AND TO RELOCATE ANY FACILITY THAT IS NEARER THAN  A  THREE  MILE  RADIUS
FROM  ANY OTHER SUCH FACILITY.  NO SHELTER FOR ADULTS SHALL BE CERTIFIED
TO OPERATE BEYOND DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND  FOURTEEN,  UNLESS
SUCH SHELTER MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION.
  S  3.  The New York state department of family assistance shall make a
report to the legislature and the governor on  or  before  November  10,
2015.  It  shall  contain  such  information concerning how locations to
shelter the homeless are selected by localities and such recommendations
as the commissioner of the office of children and family services  shall
deem necessary or proper.
  S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.