Support for including the Home Stability Support Program in the Final Executive Budget

SUMMARY

The Social Welfare Committee (Susan Welber, Chair) sent a letter to the Governor and Legislative leaders urging them to include a proposed Home Stability Support (HSS) Program in the final New York State Executive Budget. HSS would be a statewide rent supplement for families and individuals who are eligible for public assistance benefits and who are facing eviction, homelessness, or loss of housing due to domestic violence or hazardous living conditions. This supplement would bridge the difference between the current shelter allowance and the 85% of fair market value as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Localities would then have the option to further raise the support up to 100% of the Fair Market Rent, at the locality’s expense. The Committee argues that the problem of homelessness has reached a critical juncture, and the costs to communities are unsustainable. The Committee supports HSS as a fiscally-responsible approach to addressing the homelessness crisis that reduces public assistance costs while keeping more families in their homes.

BILL INFORMATION 

A.3006-B, Part FF – Budget Article VII, Education, Labor and Family Assistance Budget 
A.3003-B at 498 – Aid to Localities Budget Bill (NYS 2017-18)