BILL NUMBER: S6895

SPONSOR: RIVERA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public housing law, in relation to ensuring formerly
incarcerated individuals have access to public housing

 
PURPOSE OF BILL:

To ensure that previously incarcerated individuals have access to public
housing and that they do not face discrimination on the sole grounds of
being a formerly incarcerated individual.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill amends section 402 of the public housing law by
adding 2 a new subdivision 11 to read as follows: Notwithstanding any
other provision of law to the contrary, no person shall be denied occu-
pancy in a dwelling in any project or be subjected to eviction from any
such dwelling on the sole ground that such person is a formerly incar-
              

cerated individual.

Section 2 provides for the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Incarcerated individuals generally have a difficult time adjusting to
life after incarceration. The stigma of being a formerly incarcerated
individual, along with the discrimination endured when applying for
public housing, applying for employment, and socially, contributes to
the difficulty of assimilating back into society. As the population of
jailed New Yorkers continues to decline, more and more previously incar-
cerated individuals are in need of affordable and accessible housing
options and are turning to public housing for relief.  Unfortunately,
the policies enforced by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
deny the right to public housing for previously incarcerated individ-
uals. These practices tear families apart, making it so children are
unable to live with their previously incarcerated family members, and
providing yet another hardship for these individuals as they reenter
society.

More than half of the individuals who are released from state correc-
tional facilities each year are released into homelessness, and discri-
minatory public housing practices undoubtedly contribute to this issue.
Formerly incarcerated individuals should have the same access to public
housing as any other New Yorker, and it is essential that these prejudi-
cial policies be addressed as soon as possible to ensure that no more
formerly incarcerated individuals are victimized by NYCHA's discrimina-
tory practices. This bill prohibits formerly incarcerated individuals
from being denied access to or eviction from public housing, solely on
the basis of being a formerly incarcerated individual. This bill would
ensure that access to New York State public housing becomes a feasible
option for previously incarcerated individuals, and ensures that there
is one less hurdle for these individuals to endure as they re-enter
society.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:.

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.