A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to exits from domestic violence emergency shelters

Int. No. 1739-A

By Council Members Levin, Menchaca, Kallos, Palma, Johnson and Adams

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to exits from domestic violence emergency shelters

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 21 of the administrative code of the City of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-141 to read as follows:

§ 21-141 Exits from domestic violence shelters. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Domestic violence emergency shelter. The term “domestic violence emergency shelter” means time-limited housing for domestic violence survivors managed by or under a contract or similar agreement with the department and subject to section 459-b of the social services law.

Domestic violence tier II shelter. The term “domestic violence tier II shelter” means housing for domestic violence survivors managed by or under a contract or similar agreement with the department and subject to the provisions of part 900 of title 18 of the New York codes, rules, and regulations.

Exits from domestic violence shelters. The term “exits from domestic violence shelters” means a household or individual leaves a domestic violence emergency shelter.

Made own arrangements. The term “made own arrangements” means a  household or individual informed the department of  a planned exit from domestic violence shelter.

Rental subsidy. The term “rental subsidy” means financial assistance provided by the department for the purpose of paying a recipient’s rent on an ongoing basis and includes but is not limited to the public assistance shelter allowance provided by the department as established by section 131-a of the New York social services law, section 159 of the New York social services law, section 349 of the New York social services law, or any codes, rules and regulations, as well as subsidies provided through the living in communities rental assistance program, the city family eviction prevention supplement program and the city family exit plan supplement, the city special exit and prevention supplement, the home tenant-based rental assistance program, and any successor program to the foregoing programs. The term “rental subsidy” also includes federal rental assistance pursuant to the section 8 project based rental assistance program, or any successor program, or any programs under the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, providing rental assistance for the purpose of paying a recipient’s rent.

Supportive housing. The term “supportive housing” means affordable, permanent housing with support services for residents.

Unknown or unable to verify. The term “unknown or unable to verify” means a household or individual voluntarily exits from a domestic violence shelter and does not provide verifiable details about their subsequent living arrangements.

b. Not later than March 1, 2019, and on or before March 1 annually thereafter, the department shall submit to the speaker of the council and post on its website annual reports regarding exits from domestic violence emergency shelters. Such reports shall include, but not be limited to, the total number of individuals and the total number of families who exited a domestic violence emergency shelter during the preceding calendar year, disaggregated by the type of housing such individuals and families residing in upon their exit. Such housing types shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (i) a New York city housing authority apartment; (ii) an apartment with a rental subsidy, disaggregated by the type of such subsidy; (iii) a private apartment with no rental subsidy; (iv) supportive housing; (v) shelter operated by or under contract or similar agreement with the department of homeless services; (viii) shelter operated by or under contract or similar agreement with the department, disaggregated by type, where practicable; (ix) made own arrangements or (iix) unknown or unable to validate.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

AV

LS #11264

12/11/17, 7.30pm