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

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.

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.

Establishes a co-shelter toolkit of best practices, resources, case studies and other information deemed helpful to inform and encourage the implementation and sustenance of co-shelter models for victims of domestic violence and people experiencing homelessness with companion animals; makes related provisions.

Requires New York city marshals to complete an electronic filing within one business day of service of a notice of eviction.

Extends certain provisions relating to authorizing New York city marshals to exercise the same functions, powers and duties as sheriffs with respect to the execution of money judgments of the supreme and family courts of the city of New York; extends certain provisions of law relating to requiring New York city marshals to post and electronically file notices of eviction.

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

Relates to establishing distinctive "Women Veterans" plates and the women veterans support fund; establishes that moneys of the fund will be used for women veteran homelessness, counseling and other programs that support women veterans.

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 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.

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.

Requires that no homeless shelter shall be located within five hundred feet of a transit facility.