Affordable Housing For Veterans Comes To Port Jefferson Station

PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NY — Homelessness among veterans is an issue of increasing importance, advocates say, as numbers of homeless New Yorkers rises amid the coronavirus pandemic. A new affordable housing development in Port Jefferson Station, built by one of New York's largest supportive housing nonprofits Concern for Independent Living, is aimed at combating the issue. The housing complex has 25 of its 77 affordable units reserved for veterans.

Concern for Independent Living allocates the units through their own application process. Ralph Fasano is the executive director.

"Right now we are seeing record numbers of homeless in New York City and increasing on Long Island, because of COVID-19 and the high cost of living."

Suffolk County has one of the largest veteran populations and so veterans show up as a significant portion of the local homeless, Fasano told Patch.

"Some are older Vietnam vets with health issues and some are younger, dealing with PTSD, combat veterans, some with substance abuse issues."

Concern for Independent Living works closely with the VA.

"We really reduced veteran homelessness by creating supportive housing in New York," Fasano said. "But we have to keep developing it to keep the numbers from going up."

"We want to be able to house veterans right away when they show up at shelters."

The development, which cost $25 million, was built through a combination of affordable housing grants and programs, notably the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI.)

In 2016 Gov. Cuomo made a five-year commitment to create 20,000 supportive housing units across New York but the program is set to expire.

Advocates are hoping it's renewed so affordable housing units can keep providing New York's veterans a safe place to live.

"There are going to be a lot of happy veterans next week," Fasano said.

"And that's what we like to see."