Unlike Los Angeles LAMC §41.18, New York City has a constitutional right to shelter under the 1981 Callahan v. Carey consent decree, expanded in 1983 to families and 2008 to people with disabilities. NYC must provide shelter on demand to any homeless adult requesting it.
The 1981 Callahan v. Carey consent decree, based on Article XVII of the New York State Constitution requiring aid to the needy, obligates NYC to provide shelter to every homeless man requesting it. The 1983 Eldredge v. Koch decision extended coverage to women, and the 1986 McCain v. Koch ruling extended it to families. Department of Homeless Services intake at 30th Street (men), Help Women's Center (women), and PATH (families) must accept all comers within set timeframes. NYC has no LA-style sit-lie ban; encampment sweeps under §16-122 of the Admin Code follow notice and storage rules. Mayor Adams sought to suspend right-to-shelter for migrants in 2023.
DHS failure to provide shelter exposes the city to Callahan contempt sanctions and per-night damages; encampment sweeps that destroy belongings without notice violate §16-122 storage rules and trigger civil-rights claims under 42 USC §1983.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
New York, NY
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New York, NY
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New York, NY
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New York, NY
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New York, NY
Under Admin. Code Sec. 24-231, music from a commercial establishment may not exceed 42 dB(A) measured inside any nearby residential dwelling unit, nor 45 dB ...
New York, NY
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See how New York's lamc §41.18 encampment rule rules stack up against other locations.
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