Commissioner of homeless services coordinating with hospitals to distribute informational materials on certain weather events to patients and make services directly available to discharged patients during such events.

Summary

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.

Committee