S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10485
I N S E N A T E
May 15, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. GONZALEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and
Community Development
AN ACT to amend the public housing law, in relation to creating a pilot
program for families in public housing whose eligibility is threatened
due to youth employment, and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon the expiration thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "youth
employment empowerment act (YEEA)".
§ 2. The public housing law is amended by adding a new article 16 to
read as follows:
ARTICLE XVI
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT EMPOWERMENT ACT
SECTION 650. DEFINITIONS.
651. PUBLIC HOUSING AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SUBSIDY PILOT PROGRAM.
652. ELIGIBILITY.
653. FUNDING ALLOCATION AND DISTRIBUTION.
654. PAYMENT OF HOUSING VOUCHERS.
655. SUBSIDY AMOUNT DETERMINATION.
656. VERIFICATION OF INCOME.
657. ANNUAL REPORTS.
§ 650. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING
TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
1. "IMMINENT LOSS OF HOUSING" MEANS HAVING RECEIVED A VERIFIED PETI-
TION OR NOTICE OF EVICTION; HAVING RECEIVED A COURT ORDER RESULTING FROM
AN EVICTION ACTION THAT NOTIFIES THE INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY THAT THEY MUST
LEAVE THEIR HOUSING; OR FACING LOSS OF HOUSING DUE TO A COURT ORDER TO
VACATE THE PREMISES DUE TO LOSS OF ELIGIBLE STATUS.
2. "IMMINENT RENT INCREASE" MEANS HAVING RECEIVED A VERIFIED NOTICE OF
AN INCREASE OF RENTS DUE TO BEING OUTSIDE THE ELIGIBLE INCOME RANGE.
3. "PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY" MEANS ANY COUNTY, MUNICIPALITY, OR OTHER
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY OR PUBLIC BODY THAT IS AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER ANY
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15471-02-6
S. 10485 2
PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM (OR AN AGENCY OR INSTRUMENTALITY OF SUCH AN ENTI-
TY), AND ANY OTHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE NON-PROFIT ENTITY THAT ADMINISTERS
ANY OTHER PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM OR ASSISTANCE.
4. "HOUSING SUBSIDY LOCAL ADMINISTRATOR" MEANS A PUBLIC HOUSING AGEN-
CY, AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION, OR SECTION 8 LOCAL
ADMINISTRATOR DESIGNATED TO ADMINISTER THE PUBLIC HOUSING SUBSIDY AND
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PILOT PROGRAM WITHIN A COMMUNITY, COUNTY OR REGION, OR
STATEWIDE, ON BEHALF OF AND UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE PUBLIC HOUSING AGEN-
CY. IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE HOUSING SUBSIDY LOCAL ADMINISTRATOR
SHALL BE THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVEL-
OPMENT, OR THE NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY, OR BOTH.
5. "FAMILY" MEANS A GROUP OF PERSONS RESIDING TOGETHER. SUCH GROUP
INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, A FAMILY WITH OR WITHOUT CHILDREN (A
CHILD WHO IS TEMPORARILY AWAY FROM THE HOME BECAUSE OF PLACEMENT IN
FOSTER CARE IS CONSIDERED A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY) OR ANY REMAINING
MEMBERS OF A TENANT FAMILY. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL HAVE THE DISCRETION
TO DETERMINE IF ANY OTHER GROUP OF PERSONS QUALIFIES AS A FAMILY.
6. "OWNER" MEANS ANY PRIVATE PERSON OR ANY ENTITY, INCLUDING A COOPER-
ATIVE, AN AGENCY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, OR A PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY,
HAVING THE LEGAL RIGHT TO LEASE OR SUBLEASE DWELLING UNITS.
7. "DWELLING UNIT" MEANS A SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING, INCLUDING ATTACHED
STRUCTURES SUCH AS PORCHES AND STOOPS; OR A SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING UNIT
IN A STRUCTURE THAT CONTAINS MORE THAN ONE SEPARATE RESIDENTIAL DWELLING
UNIT, AND IN WHICH EACH SUCH UNIT IS USED OR OCCUPIED, OR INTENDED TO BE
USED OR OCCUPIED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, AS THE RESIDENCE OF ONE OR MORE
PERSONS.
8. "INCOME" SHALL MEAN THE SAME AS IT IS DEFINED BY 24 CFR § 5.609 AND
ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO.
9. "ADJUSTED INCOME" SHALL MEAN THE SAME AS IT IS DEFINED BY 24 CFR §
5.611 AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO.
10. "SUBSIDY" MEANS A PAYMENT MADE TO AN APPROVED INDIVIDUAL FOR THE
COST OF SECURING NEW ACCOMMODATION OR RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO REMAIN IN
PLACE.
11. "LEASE" MEANS A WRITTEN AGREEMENT BETWEEN AN OWNER AND A TENANT
FOR THE LEASING OF A DWELLING UNIT TO THE TENANT. THE LEASE ESTABLISHES
THE CONDITIONS FOR OCCUPANCY OF THE DWELLING UNIT BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR
FAMILY WITH HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS UNDER A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE
OWNER AND THE HOUSING ACCESS VOUCHER LOCAL ADMINISTRATOR.
12. "YOUTH" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-ONE.
§ 651. PUBLIC HOUSING AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SUBSIDY PILOT PROGRAM. THE
COMMISSIONER, SUBJECT TO THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR THIS PURPOSE,
SHALL IMPLEMENT A FOUR-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE
IN THE FORM OF HOUSING SUBSIDIES FOR ELIGIBLE FAMILIES WHO FACE AN IMMI-
NENT LOSS OF HOUSING OR INCREASE IN RENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE. THE HOUSING SUBSIDY LOCAL ADMINISTRATOR
SHALL ISSUE SUBSIDIES PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE BEGINNING MARCH FIRST,
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-EIGHT SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR THIS
PURPOSE, AND MAY CONTRACT WITH THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
RENEWAL TO ADMINISTER ANY ASPECT OF THIS PILOT PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DESIGNATE
AND CONTRACT WITH HOUSING ACCESS SUBSIDY LOCAL ADMINISTRATORS IN THE
STATE TO MAKE SUBSIDIES AVAILABLE TO SUCH FAMILIES BEGINNING MARCH
FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-EIGHT AND TO ADMINISTER OTHER ASPECTS OF THE
PILOT PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
S. 10485 3
§ 652. ELIGIBILITY. THE COMMISSIONER MAY ISSUE RULES OR GUIDANCE FOR
DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY UNDER THIS PROGRAM, AS DETERMINED BY THE LOCAL
HOUSING AGENCY, PROVIDED THAT:
1. A FAMILY SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PILOT PROGRAM IF THEY ARE
FACING IMMINENT LOSS OF HOUSING OR ARE RENT BURDENED AND FACING AN
INCREASE IN RENT DUE TO AN INCREASE IN INCOME EARNED BY A MEMBER OF THE
FAMILY WHO IS A YOUTH. FAMILIES WHO MEET THE STANDARDS IN THIS SECTION
SHALL BE ELIGIBLE REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.
2. AN INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY IN RECEIPT OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE PURSUANT TO
THIS PILOT PROGRAM SHALL NO LONGER BE FINANCIALLY ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH
ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS PILOT PROGRAM AT THE CONCLUSION OF SUCH YOUTH'S
EMPLOYMENT.
3. WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY BECOMES FINANCIALLY INELIGIBLE FOR
RENTAL ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS PILOT PROGRAM PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO
OF THIS SECTION, THE INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY SHALL RETAIN RENTAL ASSISTANCE
FOR A PERIOD NO LESS THAN ONE YEAR, SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS
FOR THIS PURPOSE.
4. INCOME ELIGIBILITY SHALL BE VERIFIED PRIOR TO A HOUSING ACCESS
SUBSIDY LOCAL ADMINISTRATOR'S INITIAL DETERMINATION TO PROVIDE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE FOR THIS PILOT PROGRAM AND UPON DETERMINATION OF SUCH ELIGI-
BILITY, A FAMILY AND THE EMPLOYED YOUTH SHALL ANNUALLY CERTIFY THEIR
INCOME FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY AND ANY
ADJUSTMENTS TO SUCH RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
§ 653. FUNDING ALLOCATION AND DISTRIBUTION. SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION,
FUNDING SHALL BE ALLOCATED BY THE COMMISSIONER IN EACH COUNTY, OR THEIR
DESIGNEE. FUNDING FOR COUNTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF NEW YORK SHALL
BE ALLOCATED DIRECTLY TO THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PRESER-
VATION AND DEVELOPMENT AND/OR THE NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY.
§ 654. PAYMENT OF HOUSING VOUCHERS. 1. THE HOUSING VOUCHER SHALL BE
PAID DIRECTLY TO ANY OWNER UNDER A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE OWNER OF THE
DWELLING UNIT TO BE OCCUPIED BY THE VOUCHER RECIPIENT AND THE APPROPRI-
ATE HOUSING ACCESS VOUCHER LOCAL ADMINISTRATOR. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL
DETERMINE THE FORM OF THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENT CONTRACT AND THE
METHOD OF PAYMENT.
2. A HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENT CONTRACT ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO
SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION MAY PROVIDE FOR AN INITIAL PAYMENT OF UP
TO FIVE MONTHS OF RENT ARREARS THAT HAVE ACCRUED DURING PRIOR OCCUPANCY
OF A DWELLING UNIT BY A VOUCHER RECIPIENT IF SUCH PAYMENT OF ARREARS IS
NECESSARY TO CONTINUE SUCH VOUCHER RECIPIENT'S OCCUPANCY OF SUCH DWELL-
ING UNIT, AND THEREBY PREVENT IMMINENT LOSS OF HOUSING.
§ 655. SUBSIDY AMOUNT DETERMINATION. THE MONTHLY SUBSIDY AMOUNT UNDER
THIS ARTICLE FOR A FAMILY WHOSE ELIGIBILITY FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE HAS
BEEN DENIED OR REDUCED DUE TO A DETERMINATION BASED ON INCOME EARNED BY
A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY WHO IS A YOUTH, AS SET FORTH IN SECTION SIX
HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO OF THIS ARTICLE, SHALL BE EITHER:
1. THE MONTHLY MARKET VALUE OF RENT FOR A FAMILY WHO HAS LOST HOUSING
ELIGIBILITY; OR
2. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PRIOR YEAR'S RENT AND ANY INCREASE WHICH
RESULTED FROM SUCH ADVERSE DETERMINATION.
§ 656. VERIFICATION OF INCOME. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH PROCE-
DURES WHICH ARE APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY TO ASSURE THAT INCOME DATA
PROVIDED TO THE HOUSING ACCESS VOUCHER LOCAL ADMINISTRATOR AND OWNERS BY
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES APPLYING FOR OR RECEIVING ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS
ARTICLE IS COMPLETE AND ACCURATE. A YOUTH SHALL VERIFY EMPLOYMENT TO
THE COMMISSIONER THROUGH THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPROVED METHOD, TO BE
DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PAYSTUBS.
S. 10485 4
§ 657. ANNUAL REPORTS. 1. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL, ON OR BEFORE NOVEM-
BER FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-EIGHT AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER UNTIL THE
CONCLUSION OF THE PILOT PROGRAM CREATED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE, SUBMIT
A REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ARTICLE TO THE GOVERNOR, THE
TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE
CHAIR OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING, THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE
FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HOUSING, AND
THE CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.
2. THE COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PRESER-
VATION AND DEVELOPMENT, OR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE NEW YORK
CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY, OR BOTH, SHALL, ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER FIRST, TWO
THOUSAND TWENTY-EIGHT AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF
THE PILOT PROGRAM CREATED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE, SUBMIT A REPORT ON
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ARTICLE IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK TO THE GOVER-
NOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY,
THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING, THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE
FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HOUSING, AND
THE CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.
3. SUCH REPORTS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NEED NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOW-
ING: (A) THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING ALLOCATED FOR EACH COUNTY OR THE CITY OF
NEW YORK FOR SUBSIDIES PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE, (B) THE NUMBER OF INDI-
VIDUALS OR FAMILIES WHO APPLIED FOR SUCH SUBSIDY PURSUANT TO THIS ARTI-
CLE, (C) THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES PLACED ON WAITING LISTS
FOR SUBSIDIES PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE, IF ANY SUCH WAITING LISTS EXIST,
(D) THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES ISSUED SUBSIDIES PURSUANT TO
THIS ARTICLE, (E) THE MEDIAN INCOME OF INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES ISSUED
SUBSIDIES PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE, (F) THE MEDIAN PAYMENT STANDARD PER
DWELLING UNIT, INCLUDING THE MONTHLY ASSISTANCE PAYMENT AND MONTHLY RENT
OBLIGATION, FOR SUBSIDIES PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE, AND (G) THE NUMBER
OF INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES WHO HAD BEEN ISSUED SUBSIDIES PURSUANT TO
THIS ARTICLE BUT WHO BECAME NO LONGER FINANCIALLY ELIGIBLE DURING THE
REPORTING PERIOD.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed March 1, 2032.
