Makes migrant youth under the age of 25 who are receiving runaway and homeless youth services eligible to receive housing vouchers under the family homelessness and eviction prevention supplement ("FHEPS") program.
Summary
S00168 would amend New York’s Social Services Law to expand eligibility for the Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (FHEPS) housing voucher program. Under the bill, a local social services district with a population of five million or more — effectively New York City — would be required to make FHEPS vouchers available not only to eligible families, but also to eligible runaway and homeless youth under age 25 who are receiving or have previously received services under the state’s runaway and homeless youth program. The bill also specifies that the voucher program would cover full rent for undocumented youth and partial rent for documented youth with stable employment, as determined by the commissioner, if they otherwise meet the eligibility criteria.
The bill preserves the existing administrative structure for FHEPS by requiring the program to be run under an approved local plan and by tying maximum voucher rents to HUD fair market rent levels. It also requires the state to reimburse the local social services district for payments made under the program. The measure would take effect immediately if enacted, and it would directly affect the administration of housing assistance in the largest local social services district in the state.
Impact
This bill would amend section 131-bb of the Social Services Law to broaden the FHEPS program’s statutory eligibility rules for a specific population of homeless and runaway youth. In practice, it would create a new state-law entitlement pathway for certain migrant youth under 25 who have used runaway and homeless youth services, while leaving the program’s local administration and reimbursement framework intact. The bill would primarily affect New York City’s social services system, housing voucher administration, and youth-serving agencies, and could increase state and local spending for rental assistance.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a housing stability and homelessness-prevention proposal for vulnerable youth, especially migrant youth. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented debate or vote history to indicate broader legislative sentiment. The bill’s structure suggests a supportive policy intent toward expanding access to housing assistance for a high-need population.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the expansion of voucher eligibility to undocumented youth, the requirement that full rent be paid for undocumented youth, and the fiscal impact on the state and local district. Opponents could also object to extending FHEPS beyond families to a new youth category, or to the bill’s focus on a single large local district. Supporters would likely emphasize homelessness prevention, youth safety, and housing stability for runaway, homeless, and migrant youth.
Same As
Makes migrant youth under the age of 25 who are receiving runaway and homeless youth services eligible to receive housing vouchers under the family homelessness and eviction prevention supplement ("FHEPS") program.
Makes migrant youth under the age of 25 who are receiving runaway and homeless youth services eligible to receive housing vouchers under the family homelessness and eviction prevention supplement ("FHEPS") program.
Includes households who are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence under the family homelessness and eviction prevention supplement ("FHEPS") program.