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Bill

S 8676

Enacts the care workforce housing preference act

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Leroy Comrie and 2 co-sponsors

The bill gives care workers a housing preference in certain affordable units, boosting chances via a lottery during the first 60 days and up to 20% of units.

REFERRED TO HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
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Bill Summary · S 8676

Summary of Bill S. 8676 (2025-2026) – Care Workforce Housing Preference Act

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: New York
  • Bill: S. 8676
  • Introduced: January 7, 2026
  • Purpose: To create a statutory, fair-housing-compliant preference for members of the care workforce in certain affordable housing developments funded under specific programs, aimed at improving recruitment and retention of direct care, health, and human services professionals.

What the bill does (Key provisions)

1) Applicability

The care workforce housing preference would apply to housing developments financed or assisted under:
- (a) Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) developments financed with either the 9% or 4% tax credits and bonds;
- (b) Rental housing developments financed with bonds issued by the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR);
- (c) Rental housing developments assisted with HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds, if the sponsor elects to adopt the preference.

2) Eligible households

A household qualifies for the preference if at least one member is employed in a qualifying care occupation. Qualifying roles include, but are not limited to:
- Direct support professionals
- Certified nursing assistants (CNAs)
- Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs)
- Behavioral health or human services staff (including programs overseen by: Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, Office of Mental Health, and Office of Addiction Services and Supports)
- Early intervention and special education therapists

3) Method of application

  • The preference is administered through lottery weighting or tie-breaking procedures.
  • The preference does not create a set-aside; all income-eligible applicants remain eligible regardless of employment status.

4) Preference window and cap

  • The preference applies during the first 60 days of each marketing cycle (including initial lease-up and any re-rental period).
  • It applies until no more than 20 percent of restricted units in the development are leased to eligible households, with the option for project sponsors to set targets of 10 percent or 5 percent instead.

5) Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) scoring

  • DHCR will add a new scoring category titled “Care Workforce Housing.”
  • Up to 5 points may be awarded:
    • 5 points: Adoption of the preference at 20% of units plus a verified care workforce marketing and outreach plan.
    • 3 points: Adoption at 10% of units plus the outreach plan.
    • 1 point: Adoption at 5% of units plus the outreach plan.
  • The department may recognize adoption of the preference as a state-designated priority eligible for a basis boost where needed.

6) Marketing and outreach plan

Plans must include:
- Named partnerships with provider agencies, unions, hospitals, and other care workforce entities
- Multilingual application materials and availability of evening/weekend assistance
- Voucher-neutral screening policies
- Weekly tracking of application sources
- Close-out and annual reporting on implementation

7) Effectiveness and regulations

  • The provisions take effect with the first calendar quarter after the act becomes law.
  • The NY DHCR is authorized to issue rules and regulations to implement the act.

Impact and beneficiaries

Who is affected

  • Direct care workers and related healthcare/human services staff listed in the eligible occupations
  • Households applying for or renting units in LIHTC developments, bond-financed rental developments, and HUD HOME-assisted rental developments that opt into the policy
  • Developers and sponsors of eligible affordable housing projects (subject to the 60-day window and cap)

Potential effects

  • Improved housing access for care workers, potentially aiding recruitment and retention in the care sector.
  • A new scoring incentive in the QAP that encourages developers to adopt the preference.
  • Enhanced outreach requirements to ensure accessible application processes and partnerships with care-sector entities.

Timelines and process notes

  • Effective date: Immediately upon becoming law.
  • Implementation: Begins in the first calendar quarter after enactment; 60-day window for applying the preference in each marketing cycle.
  • Cap: 20% unit cap (or lower if elected by sponsor) for the allocation of the preference during each marketing cycle.
  • Regulatory framework: DHCR to promulgate rules and regulations as necessary.

Status

  • Referred to the Senate Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development (as of January 7, 2026).
  • Sponsors include Sen. Fahy and co-sponsors Scarcella-Spanton, Comrie, and others.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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