Lawmakers Introduced Homeless Outreach Legislation

New legislation aims to create street teams for coordinated homeless care across New York municipalities.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Remote Work

Lawmakers Introduced Homeless Outreach Legislation

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Assemblymember Tony Simone and State Senator Eric Bottcher have introduced legislation to establish neighborhood street teams for homeless outreach. The bill is designed to reduce treatment silos by allowing government agencies, health professionals, and providers to share information securely.

Why it matters

The proposal seeks to provide more individualized care following a stabbing incident in Times Square. It aims to address systemic communication gaps while New York organizations navigate uncertainty regarding federal housing grant funding.

Proposed street teams would integrate outreach providers and health professionals to facilitate information sharing. Organizations currently warn that shifting federal funds could set back state homelessness efforts by 30 years.

The players

Tony Simone

He is an Assemblymember representing Manhattan who co-sponsored the legislation to improve homeless care.

Eric Bottcher

He is a State Senator who partnered with Assemblymember Simone to introduce the street team proposal.

The details

The bill allows city and county levels to establish teams that communicate electronically, by phone, or in person to better serve residents. This initiative follows federal grant changes that shifted focus from permanent housing to temporary housing, as well as court actions that delayed grant applications.

September 24, 2026: The publication date for reports regarding outreach barriers.
End of September 2026: The deadline for federal grant applications.

Market Landscape

The legislation reflects a broader industry shift toward integrated care models as municipalities grapple with fragmented federal support. This move positions New York to test localized coordination strategies against the backdrop of changing national housing assistance priorities.

Residents may see changes in how outreach teams interact with the local community as the state moves toward more collaborative, individualized care. If the bill passes, government and health professionals will be authorized to share data to improve service delivery at the local level.

The takeaway

The proposed legislation marks a move toward inter-agency cooperation to combat homelessness in dense urban areas like Manhattan. Officials hope that breaking down data silos will provide more effective support for those in need, despite current federal funding uncertainties.