For Immediate Release
April 19, 2021
Contact: Press.Office@Suffolkcountyny.gov
County Executive Announces Completion of 10 New Inclusive Housing Units funded through County’s Inclusive Housing Pilot Program
Photos of the Event are Available Here
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today announced $10 million in funding to develop new inclusive housing opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The funding, which will be included as part of the County Executive’s proposed capital budget, will provide $2.5 million in funding a year for four years.
The County Executive will convene a group of stakeholders to review the County’s current inclusive housing pilot program and provide recommendations and updates to the current guidelines in order to ensure the best utilization of the $10 million investment.
“Our region is on the cusp of an impending tsunami. With longer life expectancy for those with disabilities and an increasing rate of diagnosis, this all equates to more people to serve than ever before with limited resources,” said Suffolk County Executive Bellone. “This record investment provides a real incentive to turn inclusive housing into a reality for our residents, at a time when it is critically needed.”
In 2019, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone launched the Sewer Infrastructure Pilot Program, which provided wastewater infrastructure funding for community-based integrated projects that permanently restrict units within the project to individuals eligible to receive services through the New York State Office of People with Developmental Disabilities.
As part of the pilot program, Suffolk County completely funded 10 units at the Riverview Lofts affordable housing development in Riverhead. All of the 10 units are currently occupied. The pilot program has funded a total of 18 units.
According to the New York Housing Resource Center, there are more than 25,000 adults in Suffolk County with intellectual or developmental disabilities and 63% of them live with family caregivers and of those, 25% of the caregivers over the age of 60. The program seeks to address the predicament for many families who are concerned with what happens to their child once they are deceased.
Between 2012 and 2020, the New York State Office of People with Developmental Disabilities funded the creation of 8 units in Suffolk County for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the OPWDD Integrated Supportive Housing Capital Fund.