Rodriguez v. Wing

*195OPINION OF THE COURT

Levine, J.

Respondent Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Social Services (DSS) contracted with a private non-profit agency to provide shelter for petitioner Elias Rodriguez, a homeless person who is permanently disabled by mental illness. As a condition of continued receipt of that housing assistance, DSS required petitioner to use a portion of his Federal disability benefits to contribute to the cost of the shelter. DSS allowed petitioner to retain, out of his Federal benefits, a sum equal to the statutory standard of monthly need apart from shelter to…