BILL NUMBER:  S2189

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the public housing law, in relation to the performance
of a study regarding homeless persons who are veterans in the state of
New York

 PURPOSE :

To address the alarming trend of homeless persons are veterans and
parents.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section I amends section 353 of the executive law by adding new
subdivision 6-a concerning the performance of a study conducted by the
New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs, the Office of Temporary
and Disability Service, Department of Labor and the Office of Children
and Family Services to determine the number of homeless persons in New
York State who are veterans. Once the study is completed a written
report will be delivered to the governor and the legislature.

Section II sets forth the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :
              

A report released in 2013 by The United States Department of Housing
and Urban Development estimates that 57,849 veterans are homeless on
any given night. This number is likely to increase given the amount of
veterans who are struggling with excessive economic burdens.
Veterans, especially those with disabilities including post-traumatic
stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, are more likely to
become homeless. Often a higher percentage of veterans returning from
the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq demonstrate these
characteristics.

In 2009, homeless veterans were mostly male while 4 percent were
female. Today, the United States Government Accountability Office
reports that women veterans identified as homeless by the VA increased
more than 140 percent, from 1,350 in fiscal year 2006 to 3,328 in
fiscal year 2010. Women veterans are also 4 times more likely than
their male counterparts to end up homeless. Homeless female veterans
who are single mothers have a tough time finding adequate shelter,
daycare services, and finding gainful employment.  About 3,000 of
these veterans could not access shelter and one-third had some sort of
disability. These statistics are alarming and become even more
distressing when you take into account that many of these women have
children. The study and analysis would gather information on the
number of homeless veterans in New York and how many of them have
children. Ultimately, the outcome from this study would produce
recommendations and solutions to combat the growing problems among the
men and women who have served our country.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2016: S2575-C (Parker) - Veterans, Homeland Security and Military
Affairs
2015: S2575-B (Parker) - Veterans, Homeland Security and Military
Affairs
2014: S908-C (Parker) - Veterans, Homeland Security and Military
Affairs
2013: S908 (Parker) - Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
2012: S6343 (Huntley) - Veterans, Homeland Security and Military
Affairs

 FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE :

To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after the bill shall
become law.