Homelessness continues to be one of the significant crises facing New York State. Over the years, the State has taken steps towards providing assistance to its homeless residents and preventing vulnerable residents from becoming homeless. The 2014-15 Enacted Budget allocated $30 million to support a myriad of homeless services funded through the New York State Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP), the Solutions to End Homelessness Program (STEHP), and Operational Support for AIDS Housing (OSAH). These services include supportive housing for vulnerable populations, eviction prevention, relocation services, and services to promote housing retention and self-sufficiency. Additionally, the Enacted Budget authorized New York City to utilize TANF funding to create a rental subsidy program for homeless people living in New York City upon State approval.

The Committees seek to obtain information from local social services districts on their homeless population and any trends, discuss measures implemented by local social services districts to combat homelessness and any results, learn about any future initiatives that local social services districts are developing to address homelessness, and for local services districts to share any best practices they have discovered.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committees would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committees' interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

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Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on Homeless Services in New York State are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, email or fax it to: