(Hauppauge, NY, October 10, 2012) –An affordable housing initiative in Amityville that will provide rental housing for homeless military veterans was unanimously approved by the Suffolk County Legislature this week.
Under the provisions of the resolution, Suffolk County will provide $1.5 million to subsidize infrastructure costs associated with the project, including roadways, curbs, sidewalks, sewer piping and lighting. The 60 rental unit project will help address the critical shortage of housing for homeless veterans, veterans in danger of becoming homeless, female veterans and for veterans with families. It creates more than 160 construction jobs during the construction phase of the project and at least eight permanent positions when the facility is completed. The overall project, which includes a community center for the veterans and park on adjacent parcels, is funded through County, State and Federal funding sources.
“This project is going to dramatically change the lives of many veterans for the better. One of the really exciting things about this project is that it provides housing options to individual female veterans and for veterans with families, which are otherwise in short supply,” said County Executive Steve Bellone. “This project is a model for the kind of development that we want to encourage and support for our veterans.”
“This project demonstrates our commitment to our veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country,” said Legislator DuWayne Gregory.
“The Town of Babylon is proud to play an active role in providing much needed housing to our veterans,” said Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer. “I thank County Executive Bellone and Legislator Gregory for ensuring this important project gets the funding it needs, so that we can best serve the men and women that served our country so selflessly.”
A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for later this month.
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