Proposal would bar required shelter payments from homeless people

Governments, agencies, and temporary housing providers would not be allowed to require these payments or contributions. The restriction would cover homeless people and families applying for or receiving temporary housing assistance in New York, including shelters, hotels, and emergency apartments. The restriction would cover payments required to end someone's need for temporary housing assistance or as a condition of receiving it. The payment restriction would take effect on the 30th day after the proposal became law.

Temporary housing providers would have to return prohibited payments and could face a fine of up to $500 for each violation. These rules would cover temporary housing providers found to have collected payments that violate the proposed restriction. Providers would first receive notice and a chance to present their side to the state department administering these rules. The department would set procedures for penalties and allow providers to appeal within the agency. The refund and penalty rules would take effect on the 30th day after the proposal became law.

The state department administering these rules could deny public funding to providers with repeated violations. The restriction would cover temporary housing providers found to have violated the payment ban at least five more times within one year of the first finding. Officials would have discretion and would have to consider the local availability of similar services. A provider could ask to restore funding by explaining how it removed responsible staff from their roles, took steps to prevent repeat violations, and why continued exclusion would not serve the public interest. The funding restriction would take effect on the 30th day after the proposal became law.