New York state has proposed regulations to ensure homeless families in hotels receive the same social services as those in shelters. The rules aim to provide support, including housing assistance, meals, and child care, to families outside New York City.
New York homeless families could receive equal access to services
A ProPublica and New York Focus investigation revealed that counties had placed tens of thousands of adults and children in hotels as a response to homelessness. Reports indicate that authorities cut many families off from social services, leaving them in overcrowded or dilapidated hotels.
“Everyone placed in emergency housing really should have a fair shot at stability no matter where they’re staying. And so I definitely believe that the state needs to consider and make [the rule change] a priority,” said Democratic Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, chair of her chamber’s committee on local governments.
The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) published the proposed regulations on Wednesday. The public will have 60 days to comment on the regulations before OTDA adopts, modifies, or drops them.
Counties would be required to submit plans for delivering support services immediately after the rules are finalized.
Implementation details and financial impact
Under the proposal, counties must enforce limits on overcrowding and ensure children do not share beds with adults. While the rules do not directly address hotel costs, OTDA estimates that implementing the regulations would cost counties less than $120,000 each if not already providing these services.
Robert Henke, chairman of the Washington County Board of Supervisors, said his upstate county already provides some services to families in hotels.
“The greater burden is the cost of hotel stays, which contributed to a county budget crisis and funding cuts,” he said.
Spending on hotel placements in his county rose from $579,000 to over $1.9 million between 2023 and 2024.
Statewide, New York spent over $110 million on hotel stays outside New York City in 2024. OTDA noted that with additional support, families may not need to stay in hotels as long, which could reduce expenses.
Brian Kavanagh, a Democratic state senator, said he would work to assemble the resources necessary to implement the regulations if adopted.
Previous efforts to provide for the homeless
OTDA first outlined new rules for hotel placements about five years ago, but never formally proposed them. In response to the inquiries last year, OTDA Commissioner Barbara Guinn declined to explain the delay.
Families interviewed said they did not receive basic services, including child care for children with special needs. Many struggled to feed themselves and stayed in conditions where multiple family members shared a single bed.
The proposed rules follow broader concerns about emergency housing costs and the effectiveness of temporary placements. Similar discussions on emergency support have been reported in stories on the WFP, urging business leaders to address global hunger.