Creates an employer-assisted housing match grant program under which certain nonprofit employees may be eligible for a state match for certain employer-provided funds for housing costs.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10457
SPONSOR: Santabarbara TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the private housing finance law, in relation to enacting
the "employer-assisted housing matching grant act"
PURPOSE:
To establish the Employer-Assisted Housing (EAH) Matching Grant Program
to support the nonprofit human services workforce. The program is
designed to improve workforce stability, reduce turnover, and reduce
vacancies.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one provides the short title of the act as the "Employer-Assist-
ed Housing (EAH) Matching Grant Act."
Section two sets forth legislative findings and intent, recognizing that
housing affordability is a major driver of workforce instability among
nonprofit human services providers and that employer-assisted housing
supports can help retain critical frontline staff.
Section three adds a new section 47-f to the private housing finance law
to establish the employer-assisted housing matching grant program. Key
provisions include:
* Eligibility for nonprofit provider agencies that are funded, licensed,
certified, or contracted by OPWDD, OMH, or OASAS, including joint or
collaborative applications.
* Eligibility for employees working at least 20 hours per week in quali-
fying care workforce positions, earning no more than 150 percent of area
median income, and residing in New York State.
* Allowable uses of funds, including security deposits, first month's
rent, emergency rental arrears, and down payments and closing costs for
a primary residence.
* A state match equal to 50 percent of the employer's contribution, up
to $3,000 per worker in any rolling twelve-month period.
* Administrative authority for HCR to issue regulations, advance or
reimburse funds, reallocate unused funds, collect reports, and audit
participating employers.
* Coordination with other housing assistance programs and requirements
for accessible outreach and appeals processes.
Sections four and five contain a severability clause and establish an
effective date 180 days after enactment, with authority for HCR to
promulgate regulations prior to that date.
JUSTIFICATION:
In recent years, New York State has taken important steps to strengthen
the human services workforce through targeted investments that have
contributed to measurable improvements in turnover and vacancy rates.
Despite these improvements, the rising cost of housing has become an
equally critical barrier to recruitment and retention, especially in
high-cost regions of the state.
Nonprofit providers certified or contracted by OPWDD, OMH, and OASAS
operate essential programs that support individuals with disabilities,
serious mental illness, and substance use disorders. These services
depend on a stable, local workforce, However, many employees are unable
to secure or maintain housing near their workplace, leading to excessive
turnover, staffing shortages, and disruptions in care.
Employer-assisted housing has emerged as a proven workforce strategy,
but many nonprofit providers lack the resources to scale such programs
independently. This bill leverages limited state dollars by matching
employer contributions, encouraging shared investment while maximizing
impact. By focusing on modest, targeted assistance such as security
deposits, rental start-up costs, and down payment support, the program
addresses the most immediate housing barriers facing care workers,
This approach complements, rather than duplicates, existing housing
programs and aligns workforce policy with housing policy to strengthen
the stability of New York's human services infrastructure.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law; provided, however, that the division of housing
and community renewal may adopt rules and regulations necessary for its
implementation prior to such date.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10457
IN ASSEMBLY
March 6, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the private housing finance law, in relation to enacting
the "employer-assisted housing matching grant act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
2 the "employer-assisted housing matching grant act".
3 § 2. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature hereby finds
4 that the ability of New York's human services workforce to live near
5 their place of employment is essential to the stability of programs that
6 support individuals with disabilities, mental health needs, substance
7 use disorders, and other vulnerable populations. Non-profit provider
8 agencies certified, licensed, or contracted by the state face chronic
9 workforce shortages, exacerbated by the high cost of housing. To address
10 these challenges, this act establishes a program to match employer-pro-
11 vided housing assistance for care workers, thereby helping such workers
12 to remain stably housed and employed.
13 § 3. The private housing finance law is amended by adding a new
14 section 47-f to read as follows:
15 § 47-f. Employer-assisted matching grant program. 1. Definitions. For
16 purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following
17 meanings:
18 (a) "Eligible employee" shall mean an individual employed by an eligi-
19 ble employer:
20 (i) who is employed in a qualifying care workforce position, including
21 but not limited to direct support professionals, certified nursing
22 assistants, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, behavioral
23 health or human services staff, and early intervention and special
24 education therapists;
25 (ii) who works a minimum average of twenty hours per week;
26 (iii) whose household income does not exceed one hundred fifty percent
27 of area median income, or such lower limit as may be set by the employ-
28 er; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14251-01-5
A. 10457 2
1 (iv) who maintains a primary residence in the state of New York.
2 (b) "Eligible employer" means a nonprofit agency that is funded,
3 approved, certified, licensed, or contracted by the office for people
4 with developmental disabilities, the office of mental health, or the
5 office of addiction services and supports.
6 (c) "Employer contribution" shall mean cash assistance provided
7 directly by an eligible employer or reimbursed to an eligible employee
8 for documented housing costs, but shall not include in-kind benefits.
9 (d) "Program" means the employer-assisted housing match grant program
10 established pursuant to subdivision two of this section.
11 2. Establishment. The division of housing and community renewal, in
12 consultation with the office for people with developmental disabilities,
13 the office of mental health, and the office of addiction services and
14 supports, shall establish and administer an employer-assisted housing
15 matching grant program for nonprofit provider agencies qualifying as
16 eligible employers as described in this section.
17 3. Eligible employers. Eligible employers shall be eligible to partic-
18 ipate in the program. Two or more eligible employers may apply jointly
19 through a collaborative or umbrella organization.
20 4. Fund uses. Matching grant funds distributed by the program shall be
21 applied toward:
22 (a) residential security deposits;
23 (b) first month's rent;
24 (c) emergency rental arrears; or
25 (d) down payment and closing costs for a primary residence, provided
26 that the eligible employee agrees to maintain such residence for not
27 less than one year after purchase.
28 5. State match. (a) The state shall provide a matching grant equal to
29 fifty percent of the employer contribution made by an eligible employer
30 under the program on behalf of an eligible employee, up to a maximum of
31 three thousand dollars per eligible employee in any rolling twelve-month
32 period.
33 (b) Funds under the program shall be disbursed to the eligible employ-
34 er upon submission of documentation demonstrating payment to a landlord,
35 property manager, or settlement agent, as applicable.
36 (c) Eligible employees may receive assistance in multiple years,
37 provided that the aggregate does not exceed the rolling cap.
38 6. Administration. (a) The division of housing and community renewal
39 shall promulgate regulations and guidance governing the administration
40 of the program, including application procedures, documentation stand-
41 ards, allowable uses, and reporting requirements.
42 (b) The division of housing and community renewal may advance funds to
43 participating eligible employers or reimburse after eligible employer
44 payment, and may reallocate unused funds among eligible employers.
45 (c) Eligible employers participating in the program shall submit annu-
46 al reports detailing the number of eligible employees assisted, the type
47 of assistance provided, the aggregate amount of such eligible employer's
48 and state funds disbursed, and eligible employee retention outcomes to
49 the extent practicable.
50 (d) The division of housing and community renewal is authorized to
51 audit eligible employers' records and recover funds improperly used.
52 7. Coordination with other programs. Eligible employees under this
53 section shall not be prohibited from receiving other housing assistance
54 solely for their participation in the program.
55 8. Outreach and access. (a) The division of housing and community
56 renewal shall develop and disseminate informational materials to eligi-
A. 10457 3
1 ble employers and eligible employees regarding the availability of the
2 program.
3 (b) Application procedures shall ensure accessibility, including
4 language access and availability of evening and weekend assistance.
5 9. Appeals. The division of housing and community renewal shall estab-
6 lish an administrative process for review of determinations denying
7 employer or employee eligibility under the program.
8 § 4. Severability clause. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivi-
9 sion, or section of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent
10 jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or
11 invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation
12 to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or section thereof
13 directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have
14 been rendered. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the legislature
15 that this act would have been enacted even if such invalid provisions
16 had not been included herein.
17 § 5. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
18 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
19 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
20 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
21 completed on or before such effective date.
