Committee on Criminal Justice Holds Hearing on Council Member Rivera’s Legislation to Expand Supportive Housing Eligibility

New York, NY – Today, the Committee on Criminal Justice held a hearing on Introduction 1100-2024, sponsored by Council Member Carlina Rivera, which would amend supportive housing eligibility to include justice system involvement in the last 12 months to any eligibility parameters. This amendment would remove barriers that currently prevent thousands of New Yorkers, many of whom have been diagnosed with mental illness or substance use disorder, from accessing stable housing upon release from incarceration. 

Incarceration is a major risk factor for homelessness: individuals who are formerly incarcerated are ten times more likely to experience homelessness than the general public and one-third of individuals admitted to New York City jails in 2023 had previously been unhoused. That same year, over forty percent of people released to New York City from state prisons were discharged directly into city shelters.

Despite the well-documented link between housing instability and incarceration, most supportive housing programs in New York City currently require applicants to meet the federal definition of being chronically homeless, which mandates an individual qualify as homeless for 12 or more months in the past 3 years, or have 4 or more separate episodes of homelessness that total 12 or more months in the past 3 years. 

City agency efforts to end and prevent homelessness have primarily focused on targeting individuals who are defined as chronically homeless, but the length of time homeless is not the only indicator of vulnerability, and long-term jail and prison stays can interrupt chronicity requirements that facilitate access to supportive housing.

Mental health is also deeply connected to both incarceration and homelessness. 50% of individuals on Rikers Island have been diagnosed with a mental illness, and 20% have a serious mental health condition. Without stable housing and support services, many of these individuals are caught in a cycle of homelessness, emergency hospital visits, and repeated incarceration, putting immense strain on city services and resources.

Introduction 1100-2024 aims to break this harmful cycle by connecting individuals who qualify with permanent affordable housing paired with wrap-around programming and social services. Studies have shown that supportive housing significantly reduces recidivism, decreases reliance on costly emergency services, and saves public funds. Providing supportive housing for 2,600 individuals leaving Rikers annually would cost approximately $108 million per year, compared to the staggering $1.4 billion spent on incarcerating them. As New York City moves towards closing the facilities on Rikers Island, it must invest in housing solutions that provide stability and opportunity. 

“Jail is not a home. Supportive housing is one of the most effective tools we have to break the cycle of homelessness and incarceration, but too many New Yorkers are excluded from accessing it due to eligibility requirements that fail to account for the realities of the criminal legal system,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera (D-02). “Introduction 1100-2024 would remove barriers to housing by expanding eligibility to people with recent justice system involvement, ensuring that more New Yorkers can access the stability and services they need to thrive. I am grateful to our partners and advocates who are working to advance this critical legislation and push for bold solutions to address the intersecting crises of homelessness and incarceration.”

“Supportive housing is a lifeline for individuals leaving incarceration, offering stability and services to rebuild their lives. Introduction 1100-2024 is a crucial step in removing the city’s own barriers that make it difficult to access supportive housing. By expanding eligibility to include recent justice system involvement, more New Yorkers can have a safe home and a chance at a fresh start. We urge City Council to pass this legislation to break the cycle of homelessness and incarceration,” said Lauren Velez, CSH Director.

“For decades, The Fortune Society has seen the devastating impact of housing inaccessibility on people returning home from jail and prison—especially those with mental health needs or substance use histories. We know that the weeks following release are a critical window of vulnerability and also opportunity. Yet, far too often, individuals ready to rebuild their lives are forced into homelessness simply because of systemic barriers, including restrictive eligibility criteria for supportive housing,” said Stanley Richards, President and CEO of The Fortune Society. “Intro 1100-2024 offers a commonsense, urgent solution. By expanding supportive housing eligibility to include recent justice system involvement, we can interrupt the cycle of homelessness and incarceration, reduce reliance on costly emergency systems, and give more New Yorkers a real chance at stability and recovery. At a time when we are working toward closing Rikers and reducing the footprint of the criminal legal system, we must invest in housing as a cornerstone of reentry and public safety.  Intro. 1100 is one such investment.  We applaud Council Member Rivera’s leadership in sponsoring this bill and are committed to standing with her and our partners to get it passed.”

“Jail is not a home, and it should never be counted as one. Yet every day, people are denied access to supportive housing because time spent incarcerated interrupts their homelessness history. Introduction 1100 confronts that injustice head-on by recognizing what we already know: justice system involvement should not be a reason for exclusion to stable housing. This bill is a bold and necessary correction that will save lives, reduce recidivism, and help end the cycle of housing instability and incarceration that far too many New Yorkers are trapped in,” said Pascale Leone, Executive Director, Supportive Housing Network of New York. 

“Justice-impacted New Yorkers should be protected from falling into homelessness. Eliminating the barriers people often face in qualifying for supportive housing will move us closer to fulfilling that,” said Council Member Sandy Nurse, Chair of the Committee on Criminal Justice. “Access to stable, long-term housing is key in preventing the often revolving door of homelessness, emergency mental health hospitalization, and eventual reincarceration. If we want to reduce the jail population, close Rikers, and have true public safety in our city, bolstering supportive housing programs will be crucial. I commend Council Member Rivera for championing this effort through her legislation.

“If we’re serious about ending the cycle of incarceration and homelessness, we have to stop punishing people after they’ve already served their time. Supportive housing is a proven, humane solution – but outdated eligibility rules exclude the very people who need it most. Intro 1100 is a common-sense step toward recognizing that stable housing is a public safety issue, a mental health issue, and a moral imperative. I’m proud to support this legislation and stand with our colleagues in fighting for a more just and equitable city,” said Council Member Christopher Marte (D-01). 

“Too often, our systems punish people twice – once through incarceration, and again through housing denial. We know that stable housing is one of the most powerful tools to prevent recidivism, support mental health, and rebuild lives. This bill is about recognizing that justice system involvement is a marker of vulnerability, not disqualification” said Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez (D-34).

“Supportive housing reduces homelessness, recidivism, and government spending,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif (D-39). “I am proud to sponsor Intro. 1100, which would make supportive housing more accessible to those who need it. I am grateful to Council Member Rivera for moving this urgent legislation.”

“Homelessness and incarceration are undeniably intertwined. By expanding eligibility for supportive housing, we are providing the most vulnerable New Yorkers with the opportunity to break free from the cycles of incarceration and homelessness. The programming and social services offered through supportive housing have proven effective in empowering individuals to rebuild their lives. We cannot turn our backs on those who need our support the most. Introduction 1100-2024 will not only help justice-involved individuals, but also benefit the entire city by reducing recidivism and creating more pathways to stability and opportunity,” said Council Member Chris Banks, Chair of the Committee on Public Housing. 

“Supportive housing has long been one of New York City’s most effective tools for reducing homelessness. For people living with serious mental illness who are released from incarceration, the housing and services provided by this model are the key to them attaining long-term stability.  Introduction 1100-2024 eliminates the unnecessary barriers that have prevented people released from jails and prison from accessing this critical resource simply because the time they spent incarcerated doesn’t count as being ‘homeless,'” said Dave Giffen, Executive Director of the Coalition for the Homeless. 

“Every day at Urban Pathways, we see the toll that incarceration and homelessness take on individuals trying to rebuild their lives. People leaving jail are among those most at risk of housing instability, yet they’re routinely excluded from the very supports that could help them stay out of the justice system. We know that supportive housing works – it keeps people housed, reduces emergency service use, and saves taxpayer dollars. But current eligibility rules leave out thousands of New Yorkers whose incarceration history should signal a need for support, not exclusion. This legislation is a smart, compassionate, and fiscally responsible step toward ending that cycle that will lead to better outcomes for individuals and communities alike. We urge the City to adopt policies that reflect the realities of those we serve, and to invest in housing as the foundation of recovery and reintegration,” said Gary P. Jenkins, Chief Administrative Officer, Urban Pathways.

“In order for all communities to thrive, equitable access to stable housing must be a cornerstone of humane policy. Every year, thousands of New Yorkers return home from jail and prison only to find themselves shut out of the very systems meant to support their reintegration. Intro 1100  will help address a gap that continues to trap far too many New Yorkers in a cycle of homelessness and incarceration. At the Center for Employment Opportunities we work with New Yorkers who are ready to rebuild their lives — to work, to care for their families, and to contribute to their communities — but housing instability makes all of that harder. Without a safe place to live, it’s nearly impossible to hold down a job, pursue education, or build long-term stability. Expanding supportive housing eligibility to be sure to include people with recent justice involvement is a practical and critical step that meets the needs of our families and our most vulnerable communities,”  said Simone Price, Director of Organizing at the Center for Employment Opportunities.