Referred to:  The Health, Human Services and Housing Committee (Chairman Uchitelle and Legislators Corcoran, Erner, Lopez, Nolan, Petit, and Stewart), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Cahill, Criswell, Roberts, and Ronk)

Legislator Phil Erner offers the following:

WHEREAS, the people of Ulster County who lose their homes depend urgently upon having accurate information as to the availability of temporary and emergency housing, in order immediately to obtain a safe, comfortable roof over their heads, in a healthful and healing environment, that facilitates their obtaining a regular home once again; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Social Services (DSS) has relationships with various private facilities to serve clients as described above; and

WHEREAS, various other departments and municipalities may maintain information about the existence, condition and availability of such facilities; and

WHEREAS, obtaining information about such facilities may require various forms of communication including World Wide Web searches, phone calls, and appearing in person at the facilities; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that DSS, in coordination with Departments of Health among others, shall conduct a daily survey of the conditions of all private facilities within Ulster County which currently or may foreseeably provide temporary-emergency housing, whether or not approved by New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that, in order to complete such survey, DSS when necessary shall correspond with building and other pertinent departments in the municipalities where such facilities be located; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that DSS should propose for the 2024 budget whatever resources it needs in order to continue to carry out this function in future fiscal years,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                       NOES:    

Passed Committee: Health, Human Services and Housing on ____________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ____________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

TBD