N.Y. Social Services Law § 461-i: Planning and development grants for enriched housing programs

§ 461-i. Planning and development grants for enriched housing

programs. 1. The department shall, to the extent funds are available for

such purpose, award planning and development grants to, and contract

with, lawfully approved enriched housing programs that qualify for such

grants under criteria to be established by the department. Such grants

shall be made for the purposes of defraying start-up expenses and

reducing initial operating deficits incurred in the first twelve months

of a program's operations resulting from initial low occupancy rates.

Use of such funds may include, but shall not be limited to, paying for

rent prior to occupancy and security deposits, administrative expenses,

minor renovations of existing structures, furnishings and household

equipment, moving expenses of residents and reasonable anticipated

operating deficits resulting from low initial occupancy rates.

2. Any public agency, public corporation or not-for-profit corporation

who has filed an application for approval to operate an enriched housing

program, or any lawfully approved enriched housing operator, may make

application for a planning and development grant in a manner and form

prescribed by the department. The department shall make determinations

of award for each application for such grants at such time that a final

determination is made with respect to approving the establishment of, or

granting an operating certificate for, an enriched housing program. The

department shall award planning and development grants on the basis of

the quality of the proposed program, the applicant's financial needs,

the geographic distribution of enriched housing programs, and the

availability of, and demand for, long-term care services in the

geographic area to be served by the proposed program.

3. The department may award planning and development grants to, and

contract with, lawfully approved enriched housing programs under

criteria to be established by the department for the purpose of moderate

renovations or modifications of existing structures when determined to

be necessary by the commissioner. Use of such grants for moderate

structural renovations or modifications shall be deemed necessary in

those instances where the commissioner determines that, without such

renovations or modifications, a geographic area may be underserved

because of the lack of available or suitable existing structures.