Bills affecting Housing-insecure in New York (2026 session)

Requires the inclusion of suicide prevention resources to be provided with a warrant of eviction, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the applicable Suicide Crisis telephone number as provided by the Office of Mental Health.

Reduces the period of notice required to be given when a written demand for rent is served on a tenant after the tenant has defaulted in the payment of rent and the period of notice to be given serving a warrant issued pursuant to a final judgment of eviction from fourteen days to seven days.

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.

Establishes the civil right to counsel in eviction proceedings in New York state; creates the New York state office of civil representation; requires that covered individuals be given notice of such right to counsel.

Includes households who are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence under the family homelessness and eviction prevention supplement ("FHEPS") program.

Enacts the "shelter arrears eviction forestallment act" to provide emergency assistance for rent or mortgage arrears or other fees for the prevention of eviction.

Requires shelter allowances be set at up to one hundred percent of the fair market rent for the local social services district.

Establishes the homeless protection act which designates certain offenses against homeless persons as hate crimes; includes the definition of homelessness.

Provides that the comptroller shall examine and audit all state or federal funds appropriated or received for the humanitarian aid including short term shelter services to migrant individuals and families, including costs associated with humanitarian emergency response and relief centers for individuals entering short term shelter on or after April 1, 2024 in New York city or any other municipality in New York state.

Prohibits the use of aversive conditioning which includes any procedure which causes obvious signs of physical pain, including but not limited to hitting, pinching and electric shock; prohibits the use of any procedure or punishment which denies a vulnerable person reasonable sleep, shelter, bedding, bathroom facilities and any other aspect expected of a humane existence; defines terms.

Establishes the "winter moratorium on evictions act" to prohibit eviction of tenants from residential properties during the winter months.

Prohibits naming dependent children under the age of 18 living in the same household with a parent or guardian in petitions to recover possession of real property and eviction warrants; seals any records pertaining to dependent children under the age of 18 living in the same household with a parent or guardian who were residing on or removed from such property.

Provides that schools, child day cares, day care centers, or community based organizations which support activities for children under the age of eighteen can not serve as a shelter for migrants.

Limits the requirements of supplying good cause eviction law notice to units covered by good cause eviction laws.

Establishes a fundamental right to counsel for all respondents facing eviction proceedings; mandates an automatic stay or adjournment on any housing court eviction proceedings if a tenant does not have an attorney.

Establishes protection for senior citizens against unwarranted eviction; requires plaintiff/landlord to file an affidavit determining whether or not the respondent is a senior citizen and sets forth guidelines and procedures for a default eviction against a senior citizen, including representation of counsel; defines senior citizen as persons aged 62 or over for purposes of the real property actions and proceedings law.

Establishes the housing people and animals together grant program to expand access for co-sheltering people experiencing homelessness and victims of domestic violence with companion animals.

Makes the failure to provide food, water or appropriate shelter to a companion animal (dogs and cats) left outside a felony punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000, or imprisonment for not more than 2 years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Expands tuition assistance program awards for students experiencing homelessness.

Expands definition of eligible senior citizen and disabled person to include any member of the tenant's household lawfully occupying the premises as such person's residence who is 62 years of age with respect to condominium and cooperative conversion to provide protection to disabled and senior citizen non-purchasing residents of buildings that undergo cooperative or condominium conversions under an eviction plan even where such residents are not tenants of record in the buildings.