Categories: New York State, Openings
10.06.2014
Senator Charles E. Schumer and partners gather to cut the ribbon at Liberty Village, a supportive
housing residence for veterans and their families. Photo courtesy of Concern for Independent Living.
The fight to end veteran homelessness got a big boost on September 29th with the opening of Liberty Village, in Amityville, NY, a new 60-unit supportive housing residence for veterans and their families from Concern for Independent Living. Headlining the event was long-time project champion Senator Charles E. Schumer, having presided over the project’s groundbreaking in October 2012.
"This is great news for Long Island veterans, who willingly risked life and limb for our country," said Senator Schumer. “We overcame many obstacles to get here, but now 60 vets and their families will thankfully be provided with a comfortable place to live. I'm thankful to Concern for Independent Living for seeing this project to fruition."
MC’ing the event was Concern Executive Director and Network Board member Ralph Fasano who pointed out that Liberty Village is the first project of its kind and required “unprecedented collaboration among Federal, state and local leaders.”
That collaboration was obvious from the speakers list. Darryl Towns spoke on behalf of NYS Homes and Community Renewal, in addition to representatives from the NYS Office of Mental Health, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the County of Suffolk, the Town of Babylon, the Federal Home Loan Bank, Local Initiative Support Corporation and the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center.
Nat Conigiliaro, a veteran of the Korean War, said “I feel like it was made for me…I want to dig a hole and put all my animosity, my homelessness, my scars, and bury it…This place is like paradise, it’s home.”
“Anyone with a home has neighbors,” commented Sgt. Angel Romero. “Here, at Liberty Village, I’m with my brothers and sisters.”
The new residence is located on the grounds of the former North Amityville Armed Forces Reserve Center, Concern acquired the site through the Base Closure Community Redevelopment and Homelessness Act of 1994, which lets local communities develop on closed military bases with special consideration given to proposals offering to house homeless people.
Liberty Village is one of several projects undertaken by Concern on behalf of Long Island veterans including Concern Ronkonkoma – an upcoming project that will provide 30 units for homeless veterans and 29 units for low-income individuals and families.
The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless will administer a 40,000 sq. ft. building adjacent to Liberty Village that will house a variety of nonprofit agencies working towards eliminating veteran homelessness in New York.
Funding for this project was provided by NYS Homes and Community Renewal, NYS Office of Mental Health, NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Suffolk County, Bank of America, National Equity Fund and The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. Funding was also provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Veteran’s Administration in the form of rental subsidies.
Funding for the Resource Center came from MetLife Foundation, Northrup Grumman, and Citi Community Development.
The contractors on the project were Mega Contracting (general contracting) and Capsys (for the modules). The architect was Ken Church of DeLaCour Ferrara and Church.
Congratulations to all on this wonderful new project!