New York Senate Bill S08268

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/28/25
• Refer: 5/28/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Removes the requirement that any earned income from a homeless family in Westchester county receiving temporary housing assistance be applied to room and board, or to eliminate a need for temporary housing assistance, or as a condition to receive temporary housing assistance.

Summary

This bill amends the Social Services Law to prohibit Westchester County from requiring homeless families with dependent children who are applying for or receiving temporary housing assistance to contribute earned income toward room and board, to reduce or eliminate their need for assistance, or as a condition of receiving that assistance. The bill applies to a range of temporary housing settings in Westchester County, including family shelters, hotels, emergency apartments, domestic violence shelters, and transitional units. The measure also provides that the state may not reimburse Westchester County at less than 100 percent for temporary housing for homeless families with earned income, and it directs that the county be treated as though it were still collecting contributions from those households. At the same time, the bill states that it does not create any new obligation for Westchester County to provide temporary housing assistance or short-term housing. The bill is temporary in nature, taking effect on January 1 after enactment and expiring two years later.

Impact

The bill would create a county-specific exception to existing social services rules governing temporary housing assistance by removing earned-income contribution requirements for homeless families in Westchester County. It would affect the administration and funding of temporary housing assistance under Social Services Law section 131-a, shifting how contributions are handled for eligible households and how state reimbursement is calculated for the county. The practical effect would be to relieve affected families of income-based payment obligations while preserving state reimbursement treatment as if those contributions were still being made.

Sentiment

The available bill materials suggest a supportive, remedial intent focused on reducing financial barriers for homeless families with children in Westchester County. The caption and text frame the measure as a protection for families receiving temporary housing assistance, and there is no recorded committee transcript or vote history indicating opposition or debate. Because no votes or hearing comments are provided, the overall sentiment can only be characterized as generally favorable or at least uncontroversial in the available record.

Contention

The main policy tension in the bill is between relieving homeless families of required income contributions and preserving the fiscal structure for Westchester County and the state. Supporters would likely view the bill as preventing hardship and ensuring access to shelter without forcing families to pay from limited earnings, while any concerns would center on county administration, reimbursement mechanics, and the precedent of creating a county-specific exemption. The bill itself addresses one likely objection by stating that it does not require the county to expand its housing obligations, and by preserving full state reimbursement treatment.