Senate Bill S10486

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   10486
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 15, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services
 
 AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to providing  hous-
   ing opportunities, empowerment and supports
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Short title.  This act shall be known and may be  cited  as
 the "HOMES stability and community access act".
   § 2. Article 2-A of the social services law is amended by adding a new
 title 3 to read as follows:
                                 TITLE III
                HOUSING OPPORTUNITY AND MAINTENANCE THROUGH
                         EMPOWERMENT AND SUPPORTS
 SECTION 47-A. DEFINITIONS.
         47-B. HOMES PROGRAM.
         47-C. HOUSING PORTALS.
   §  47-A. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS TITLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL
 HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   1. "HOMES PROGRAM" SHALL MEAN THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY AND  MAINTENANCE
 THROUGH  EMPOWERMENT  AND SUPPORTS PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY SECTION FORTY-
 SEVEN-B OF THIS TITLE.
   2. "HOMELESS" SHALL MEAN AN UNDOMICILED HOUSEHOLD WHICH IS  UNABLE  TO
 SECURE  PERMANENT  AND  HABITABLE HOUSING WITHOUT SPECIAL ASSISTANCE, AS
 DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO  HOUSEHOLDS
 TEMPORARILY  RESIDING  IN  EMERGENCY  SHELTERS, TRANSITIONAL FACILITIES,
 HOTELS/MOTELS, OR SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS.
   3. "NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION" AND  "CHARITABLE  ORGANIZATION"  SHALL
 MEAN ENTITIES ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION LAW
 OR OTHERWISE ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO LAW.
   4.  "HOUSEHOLD"  SHALL  MEAN  A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY, INCLUDING
 COUPLES WITHOUT DEPENDENT  CHILDREN  WHO,  OR  WHICH,  ARE  ELIGIBLE  TO
 RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
   §  47-B.  HOMES  PROGRAM.  THE  COMMISSIONER SHALL, WITHIN THE AMOUNTS
 APPROPRIATED THEREFOR:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD15333-01-6
 S. 10486                            2
 
   1. SELECT THROUGH A COMPETITIVE  REQUEST-FOR-PROPOSAL  PROCESS,  LOCAL
 SOCIAL  SERVICES DISTRICTS AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS SERVING HOME-
 LESS AND AT-RISK HOUSEHOLDS TO PROVIDE EXPANDED ELIGIBILITY OF  EXISTING
 PROGRAMS TO PERSONS EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSTABILITY;
   2.  AUTHORIZE  AN INCREASED NUMBER OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO
 ASSIST TENANTS WITH APPLICATIONS;
   3. ESTABLISH STATE PORTALS FOR LANDLORDS AND TENANTS;
   4. ENSURE TEMPORARY EVICTIONS WHILE APPLICATIONS ARE UNDER REVIEW; AND
   5. PROVIDE AN INTEGRATION OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES  THAT  PROMOTE  LONG-
 TERM HOUSING STABILITY.
   §  47-C.  HOUSING PORTALS. WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
 THIS SECTION, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH:
   1. A LANDLORD PORTAL SYSTEM ALLOWING LANDLORDS TO:
   (A) REVIEW VOUCHER PAYMENT STATUS;
   (B) SUBMIT REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION; AND
   (C) RESOLVE PAYMENT ISSUES DIRECTLY WITH THE STATE.
   2. A TENANT PORTAL SYSTEM ALLOWING TENANTS AND  AUTHORIZED  COMMUNITY-
 BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO:
   (A) TRACK APPLICATION STATUS;
   (B) UPLOAD DOCUMENTS;
   (C) MONITOR RENT PAYMENTS; AND
   (D) RECEIVE UPDATES REGARDING THEIR CASE.
   3.  A  CENTRALIZED  PORTAL  ALLOWING  LANDLORDS, TENANTS AND CERTIFIED
 NOT-FOR-PROFIT  ORGANIZATIONS  TO  SUBMIT  ANY  QUESTIONS,   COMPLAINTS,
 REQUESTS FOR REVIEW AND APPEALS.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it  shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be  made  and
 completed on or before such effective date.