Bill > S05505

This bill requires the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), in collaboration with the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), to develop a comprehensive mental illness training course for providers of temporary housing assistance. The training will focus on helping employees and volunteers recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness and provide appropriate referrals. Temporary housing providers covered by this requirement include family shelters, adult shelters, hotels, emergency apartments, domestic violence shelters, runaway and homeless youth shelters, and refugee safe houses. The training must be provided to all employees and volunteers, and each facility must ensure that at least one trained employee or volunteer who can provide intake services is present when the facility is required to have staff on-site. The goal of the training is to improve the ability of temporary housing staff to identify and support individuals who may be experiencing mental health challenges, ultimately enhancing the care and support provided to vulnerable populations.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5505