This bill requires landlords using automated tools to screen housing applicants to conduct annual bias checks by independent auditors, ensuring the tools don't disproportionately harm protected groups like racial minorities or women. Landlords must publicly share summary results of these checks on their websites before using the tools and notify applicants about how the tools work, what data they use, and denial reasons. It directly affects landlords who deploy such technology and housing applicants whose applications are processed by these systems. The law mandates transparency about tool usage and provides applicants a 24-hour window to request human review if denied. Violations may trigger investigations by the attorney general.
This bill amends New York's affordable housing law to add a preference category for "service related disabled veterans" in home ownership development programs. It directly affects veterans who served honorably in the military, have a 40%+ disability rating from the VA or DoD related to service, and meet specific documentation requirements. The key change requires housing programs to prioritize these veterans when serving the lowest-income households or ensuring long-term affordability. This policy update modifies eligibility criteria without altering program funding or structure.
This bill prohibits landlords from denying rental applications solely based on a potential tenant's criminal history and creates similar protections for public housing applicants. It requires landlords to avoid blanket denials and mandates that public housing programs cannot inquire about criminal history before determining eligibility. The bill also establishes strict criteria for denying housing based on criminal history (only if directly related to public safety), bans consideration of sealed records, and requires an appeal process for rejected applicants. These changes directly affect renters in private housing and applicants for state/local public housing subsidies.
This bill establishes a uniform priority system for domestic violence survivors applying to public housing. It requires local housing authorities to give these applicants the same waiting list priority as other vulnerable groups (like the disabled, elderly, or homeless) if they either face ongoing domestic violence in their current home or have left due to abuse without stable replacement housing. The bill specifies that among applicants with equal priority status, selection will be based on application date and time. It references the existing legal definition of "victim of domestic violence" from social services law and applies immediately to all new applicants on waiting lists.
Establishes a pilot program in partnership with a nonprofit organization to improve equity and efficiency in housing for people with developmental disabilities by encouraging shared housing.
Relates to requiring affordable housing projects to calculate and only use the area median income for the specific county that the project is located in for determining affordability.
This bill amends New York's housing anti-discrimination law to explicitly prohibit landlords and housing providers from refusing to rent or sell housing based on a person's wage history, medical history, or health conditions. It adds these factors to the existing list of protected characteristics (like race, disability, or gender) in housing decisions. The law applies to all housing accommodations, including publicly-assisted housing, and bans both direct refusal and discriminatory inquiries about these protected factors. This creates a clear legal standard preventing housing discrimination tied to financial background or health status.
Relates to the department of correction and community supervision's role with respect to discharge planning to assist incarcerated individuals in obtaining housing before release to community supervision.
Relates to actions and proceedings seeking an abatement of rent based on violations of the housing maintenance code, applicable housing standards, the building code, or the health code; relates to the number of housing judges assigned to certain actions.
Requires affordable housing funded by the state be used for veterans and people with disabilities, with each group receiving five percent of such affordable housing.
