N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law § 48
The legislature finds that there are a significant number of homeless and at-risk households living in temporary and unstable conditions which would benefit from the provision of a comprehensive assistance program. The legislature further finds that the current system of providing services to such households would be improved by ensuring that a broad range of flexible, individualized assistance is available to stabilize households and to better meet divergent local needs. The legislature, therefore, finds that state financial assistance should be made available for the purpose of providing supportive services designed to stabilize households by attempting to avoid homelessness and, for those who are currently homeless, by facilitating the transition form homelessness to permanent housing.
N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law § 48