N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 9 § 4.4

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 36, September 4, 2024

Section 4.4 - Executive order no. 4: establishing the emergency task force on the homeless

WHEREAS, a society's response to homelessness is a test of its commitment to the ideals of justice, compassion and human dignity; and

WHEREAS, existing government and voluntary programs have been unable to meet the needs of the growing number of homeless people living on the streets of our cities; and

WHEREAS, the efforts of local governments, not-for-profit corporations and State agencies must be enhanced and better coordinated to provide both emergency and permanent solutions to the problems of New York's homeless;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mario M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State of New York, do hereby establish within the Executive Chamber an Emergency Task Force on the Homeless.

I. Membership.

The Task Force shall consist of 17 members appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be the Governor's Coordinator of Housing for the Homeless, who shall serve as chairperson. The members of the Task Force shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for any necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties.

II. Powers and Responsibilities.

The Task Force shall advise and assist the Governor in the development and implementation of policies to assist the homeless. Specifically, the Task Force shall:

(1) Develop State strategies, specific program initiatives and methods to combine the resources of government, voluntary groups, non-profit organizations, religious groups and human services providers in order to expand and improve New York's network of residences and services for homeless individuals;

(2) Identify the various populations in need of assistance, including adult men, adult women, families and children and propose strategies designed to meet each group's special needs;

(3) ensure that every effort is made to provide sufficient, humane emergency shelters for the homeless in full compliance with all relevant standards and assist those interested in establishing community shelters and permanent residences to acquire appropriate under-utilized, publicly owned facilities;

(4) conduct a county survey to determine the dimensions of homelessness throughout the State and to identify and evaluate the existing public and private efforts to meet the needs of the homeless;

(5) create a five-year plan by October, 1983, in cooperation with State agencies and authorities, to provide a complex of adequate emergency shelters, transitional accommodations, long-term supportive residences and independent living situations in conjunction with the State's commitment of $50 million in new funds for housing the homeless and to update this five-year plan annually thereafter;

(6) make recommendations on overall State social policies, and report on the effect which changes in such policies may have on homelessness;

(7) identify new methods for capitalization and operation of transitional accommodations, supportive residences and independent living situations with particular emphasis on those developments that minimize the burden borne by the State's taxpayers; and

(8) advise the Governor concerning Federal policies and actions that may affect the State's homeless population.

III. Assistance to the Task Force.

All departments, divisions, boards, offices and public corporations of the State are directed to cooperate with the Task Force and to provide such assistance as the Task Force may require to fulfill its purposes. Such assistance may include, but need not be limited to, the use of agency staff, the provision of statistical and policy data in such form as is determined by the Task Force and consultation with agency staff as the Task Force shall require.

Signed: Mario M. CuomoDated: February 15, 1983

[FN*] [Revoked by Executive Order No. 5 (Eliot Spitzer), infra.]

[Revoked by Executive Order No. 9 (David A. Paterson), infra.]

[Revoked by Executive Order No. 2 (Andrew M. Cuomo), infra.]

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 9 § 4.4