Require Homeless Services Coordination with Hospitals During Extreme Weather
Enacted on Jun 25, 2026Signed into law by the Mayor.
Signed into Law
Local Law 2026/097
✦ Plain-Language Summary
This bill would require the Department of Homeless Services to work with hospitals during Code Blue (extreme cold) and Code Red (extreme heat) alerts. Hospitals would receive materials about resources for homeless patients and coordinate with the city to connect discharged homeless patients with shelters, warming centers, cooling centers, and transportation during dangerous weather events.
Details
- Introduced
- Mar 10, 2026
- Passed Council
- May 30, 2026
- Enacted
- May 30, 2026
- Body
- Committee on General Welfare
- Type
- Introduction
- Status
- Enacted
Official Description
This bill would require the Commissioner of Homeless Services, in consultation with relevant New York City agency heads, to develop informational materials directed to hospitals pertaining to a Code Blue or Code Red alert. The materials would include information on agency resources during these alerts for individuals experiencing homelessness, recommended hospital procedures during these alerts, and contact information of the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and other relevant agencies. The Commissioner would have to conduct outreach to provide hospitals with the materials for distribution to patients. The bill would also require the Commissioner to make best efforts to coordinate with hospitals during these alerts to identify discharged patients experiencing homelessness, assess what DHS resources they need, and make the resources available to them. Examples of DHS resources include direction and transportation to shelters and warming and cooling centers.