NYC Council Committee on Aging held an oversight hearing on June 16, 2026 about senior services and Intro 230, the Council bill to create a financial assistance program for in‑home preventative adaptations; testimony from the Legal Aid Society and the New York City Department for the Aging (NYC Aging) stressed occupational‑therapist home assessments, a current HUD grant for home modifications through 2028, and operational concerns including landlord approval, eviction risk, disability documentation, and appeals. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=1744
# What’s happening
– Committee on Aging held a June 16, 2026 hearing on Intro 230 and senior services. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=1744
– NYC Department for the Aging supports the intent and cited an existing HUD home‑modifications grant. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=1744
– The Legal Aid Society urged landlord coordination to prevent eviction risk and requested appeal rights. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=7346
# Why it matters
– Older adults and disabled New Yorkers applying for in‑home modifications are directly affected. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=1744
– Without landlord coordination, tenants risk lease violations or eviction after apartment modifications. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=7491
# Key details
– Hearing date: June 16, 2026, Committee on Aging, Council Chambers at City Hall. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=611
– Intro 230 would create a financial assistance program for in‑home preventative adaptations for older adults and disabled New Yorkers. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=1744
– NYC Aging received a three‑year U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant in 2025 to run an older‑adult home modifications program through 2028. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=1744
– Current program model includes an occupational therapist visit to assess home safety and recommend minor construction. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=6493
– Legal Aid testimony said the proposed program contemplates awards up to $10,000 per person and may include work needing landlord approval. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=7491
– Legal Aid recommended a right to a fair hearing for denied applicants and warned SSD (Social Security Disability) converts to retirement at age 67, complicating disability proof. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=7491
**New York City Department for the Aging (NYC Aging)**
– Role or jurisdiction: City agency responsible for programs serving New Yorkers aged 60 and older.
– Action taken or responsibility: Testified in Committee supporting Intro 230’s intent and described current home‑modifications grant and occupational‑therapy assessments.
– Relevant numbers or dates: Received a three‑year HUD grant in 2025 to run a home modifications program through 2028; requested an additional $30 million for daily home‑delivered meals. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=8327
The Committee on Aging convened on June 16, 2026 to review inter‑agency coordination for older adults and to take public testimony on Introduction 230, caregiver programs, elder abuse, SNAP fraud, and NYCHA issues. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=611
The hearing included testimony from the Legal Aid Society urging operational safeguards for Intro 230. The Legal Aid Society said lack of apartment accommodations causes hospitalizations, nursing‑home stays, and eviction risk. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=7346
Legal Aid recommended that in‑home modifications be performed with express landlord approval to avoid lease violations and eviction. They said modest changes like grab bars differ from more extensive conversions that likely require landlord consent. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=7491
Legal Aid asked for a formal right to a fair hearing for applicants denied assistance and suggested coordination with the New York City Commission on Human Rights for landlord denials alleging disability discrimination. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=7491
Legal Aid highlighted documentation challenges for proving disability. They noted Social Security Disability (SSD) converts to Social Security retirement at age 67, which can remove a clear SSD record used as proof of disability. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=7560
**Legal Aid Society**
– Role or jurisdiction: Nonprofit legal services organization focused on preventing eviction and representing low‑income clients.
– Action taken or responsibility: Testified in support of Intro 230’s intent and outlined operational concerns about landlord approval, appeals, and disability documentation.
– Relevant numbers or dates: Cited the program’s contemplated approval limit of up to $10,000 per person in testimony. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=7346
NYC Aging officials testified that the agency supports the intent of Intro 230 while seeking clarity on operationalization. Commissioner Dr. Lisa Scott McKenzie described the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers, an inter‑agency forum meant to coordinate services for people aged 60 and older. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=8327
NYC Aging told the committee the city currently runs a HUD‑funded home modifications program that sends occupational therapists to older adults’ homes to assess hazards, recommend modifications, and provide safety education. NYC Aging said interest in the program has increased. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=1744
NYC Aging confirmed it collaborates with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) and other agencies on cases involving older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=6493
NYC Aging told the committee it will discuss shelter and housing priorities for older adults at the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers meeting scheduled for June 25, 2026. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=2771
**Council Member Crystal Hudson**
– Role or jurisdiction: Sponsor of Introduction 230, City Council Member.
– Action taken or responsibility: Sponsored Intro 230 to create financial assistance for in‑home preventative adaptations.
– Relevant numbers or dates: Introduced the bill and spoke about older adult population figures during the June 16, 2026 hearing. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=7560
Tenant and public housing speakers also testified. A tenant organizer from Mitchell Houses, representing Safe Section 9, said inter‑agency coordination does not resolve underlying NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority) operational failures and criticized increased privatization. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=2771
Committee members and witnesses raised operational questions about Intro 230: who will administer grants, what income and disability documentation will be required, and how the city will coordinate with landlords and NHYCA to avoid evictions after modifications. These questions remain for legislative and agency follow‑up. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=6493
NYC Aging asked for additional budget support for other services, including an advocacy for a $30 million investment to expand home‑delivered meals from five to seven days per week. This budget request was noted during testimony. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=8327
The committee collected public testimony and agency responses; no legislative vote occurred during the June 16 hearing. Next steps include technical discussions between Council staff, NYC Aging, and other agencies to define application requirements, appeal processes, landlord coordination protocols, and funding sources for Intro 230 if advanced. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=6493
For the committee record, witnesses said older adults need help identifying appropriate modifications, such as widening bathroom doorways or converting tubs to roll‑in showers, and recommended the city include technical assistance and occupational‑therapy assessments in any program model. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=7560
Questions raised at the hearing that require agency follow‑up included: who will administer Intro 230 grants, what documentation will satisfy disability and income standards, how landlord approvals will be obtained to prevent lease violations, and whether a formal appeal or fair‑hearing process will be established. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=7491
Public testimony and agency remarks from the June 16, 2026 Committee on Aging hearing are available on the Council’s livestream archive. Source: https://youtu.be/YRbnShiedHo&t=611
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