NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A3179
SPONSOR: Rosenthal D TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring family
homeless shelters for ten or more families in the city of New York to
have a working kitchen in each individual housing unit
SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Adds a new section 152-c to the social services law which
requires that in the city of New York, any provider of temporary housing
assistance for ten or more families in a family homeless shelter as
referenced in 18 NYCRR Part 900, requiring a working kitchen in each
individual housing unit.
The kitchen shall be installed within 60 days of the registration of the
contract between the operator of such a family homeless shelter and the
City of New York.
"Working kitchen" shall mean an area in each unit where food can be
prepared, cooked and refrigerated and will include at a minimum, a sink,
refrigerator and a double burner stove. Failure to meet the requirements
prohibits from accepting any new clients until such requirements are
met.
JUSTIFICATION::
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reports that as of
November, 2016 there were 86,352 homeless people in New York State. Of
that number, 51,037, or nearly 600, were families with children.
According to the Department of Homeless Services in New York City, as of
December 14, 2017, more than 60,000 people were in shelters comprised of
more than 40,000 adults and children in family shelters. In March 2017,
the Coalition for the Homeless reported that as of January 2017, there
were 62,692 people in shelters and that included 57,677 in family shel-
ters. These statistics demonstrate the need for family shelters and the
need"for kitchens.
Some of these homeless shelters have been established in buildings that
were former hotels or motels. These shelters often have a large kitchen
but the kitchen is not available to the residents. While food is
provided by the shelters, many families choose to eat out to have an
alternative option which can be an overwhelming financial concern.
Communal kitchen space also places a hardship on young parents and fami-
lies with children, as children are often left unattended while parents
have to leave to use kitchen facilities. Providing small kitchen facili-
ties in each room would be safer and healthier alternatives for families
in the shelter system. It is currently required by regulation, but not
by statute. This legislation would remedy this oversight.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
2018:A9847 - Referred to Social Services.
2019:A1465 - Referred to Social Services.
2020:A1465 - Referred to Social Services.
2021:A769 - Referred to Social Services.
2022:A769 - Referred to Social Services.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
None to the state
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it becomes law
provided that, effective immediately, the addition, amendment arid/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made
and complete on or before such effective date.
