This bill would require the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to appoint a cultural liaison to advise DHS on how to best facilitate arts programming and coordinate with cultural institutions. The cultural liaison would coordinate with the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and create arts programming for adults and children living in homeless shelters. The bill would also require DHS to create a plan to implement the duties of the cultural liaison that would be submitted to the Speaker of the City Council and the Commissioner of DCA.
- Filed (End of Session)
History
Int. No. 796
By Council Members Van Bramer and Levin
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to in relation to a cultural liaison for the department of homeless services
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 3 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-321 to read as follows:
§ 21-321 Homeless services cultural liaison. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Cultural liaison. The term “cultural liaison” means an individual designated by the department to advise the department on how best to facilitate arts programming and collaboration with cultural institutions.
Shelter. The term “shelter” means temporary emergency housing provided to homeless adults, adult families, and families with children by the department or a provider under contract or similar agreement with the department.
b. The department shall designate, at a minimum, one cultural liaison. Such cultural liaison shall coordinate with the department of cultural affairs and shall develop programming for adults and children residing in shelters.
c. The department shall establish a plan to delineate the responsibilities of the cultural liaison. Such plan shall include, but not be limited to, a mechanism for the cultural liaison to invite input from local non-profit social service providers, local arts organizations, members of the arts community, representatives of cultural institutions, elected officials, community planning board members, and other concerned members of the community. Within 90 days of the effective date of the local law that added this section, the department shall submit such plan to the speaker of the city council and the commissioner of the department of cultural affairs.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.
AV/ML/NJC
LS 1698
1/17/2018