N.Y. Social Services Law § 49: Definitions

§ 49. Definitions. For the purposes of this title, the following terms

shall have the following meanings:

1. "Homeless" shall mean an undomiciled household which is unable to

secure permanent and habitable housing without special assistance, as

determined by the commissioner, including but not limited to households

temporarily residing in emergency shelters, transitional facilities,

hotels/motels, or substandard conditions.

2. "Household" shall mean a single individual or family, including

couples without dependent children who, or which, are eligible to

receive public assistance.

3. "Eligible applicant" shall mean local social services districts or

not-for-profit corporations serving homeless and at-risk households.

4. "At-risk" shall mean a household threatened with homelessness and

those with a history of frequent moves.

5. "Homelessness intervention services" shall mean services which are

designed to stabilize at-risk and homeless households by avoiding

homelessness or assisting households to secure permanent and habitable

housing. Such services may include, but need not be limited to the

following:

(a) services to resolve conflicts between landlords and tenants and to

facilitate fair and workable solutions;

(b) legal services to households threatened with the loss of their

homes through eviction, harassment or other means;

(c) tenant activities to educate households in the areas of tenant

rights and responsibilities, and to organize tenants to remedy housing

problems such as code violations, landlord abandonment and harassment;

(d) benefits/entitlements advocacy to ensure that households are

receiving all federal, state and local benefits to which they are

entitled, such as temporary assistance to needy families, safety net

assistance, food stamps, supplemental security income, rent security

deposits, furniture and household moving expenses;

(e) relocation assistance which provides for the identification of and

referral to permanent and habitable housing, transportation services,

landlord/tenant lease negotiation services and assistance in

establishing utility services; and

(f) the provision of or referral to support services designed to

stabilize households in permanent and habitable housing including

services related to substance abuse, domestic violence, housekeeping,

budgeting, education, day care, employment, parenting, mental health,

physical health, and such other services deemed necessary by the office

of temporary and disability assistance. Service provided to homeless

households pursuant to this paragraph must be provided for a period of

at least six months beginning the first day of the month following the

month in which such household secured permanent housing.