New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 9 - EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT › Subtitle A - Governor's Office › Chapter I - Executive Orders › Part 4 - Executive Orders (Mario M. Cuomo) › Section 4.4 - Executive order no. 4: establishing the emergency task force on the homeless

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
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.