LIBERTY VILLAGE

Amityville, NY

Under the Base Closure Community Redevelopment and Homeless Assistance Act of 1994, military installations that are closed by the US Department of Defense must be offered for reuse for economic redevelopment and homeless assistance by local homeless service providers.  The North Amityville Armed Forced Reserve Center site was identified as one of these military installations.  In 2014, Concern for Independent Living, Inc. (Concern) developed Liberty Village on this site.

Liberty Village offers 60 one- and two-bedroom apartments for homeless veterans and their families in four buildings.  The grounds include outdoor gardens with seating and off-street parking reserved for tenants and program staff.  In addition, Concern staff ensure that the supportive service needs of all residents are met.  On-site supportive services provided by Concern include:

• Goal planning and assistance;
• Medication management;
• Assistance with Daily Living Skills (including cleaning, cooking and personal hygiene);
• Assistance with benefits;
• Parenting training and assistance (as appropriate);
• Linkages to medical and psychiatric treatment and clinics;
• Crisis intervention;
• Substance abuse services;
• Linkages for legal assistance;
• Direct educational/vocational training or assistance in accessing educational/vocational training; and
• Supported employment.

Emphasis is placed on services that support residents’ ability to find or sustain employment, become more self-sufficient, or promote their economic betterment.

An additional component of this project was the reutilization of the existing Recruitment Center as a Community Resource Center located adjacent to Liberty Village.  The Community Resource Center is owned by the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless and managed by Concern for Independent Living.  This Community Resource Center is utilized to further the work of homeless service providers in their efforts to prevent and reduce homelessness in our region.  Concern played an integral part in the development of the Community Resource Center and leases space in the Center for offices and program staff.  Also included in the Community Resource Center, is a computer room and exercise room for the benefit of Liberty Village residents.

Liberty Village was made possible through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (Housing Credit), awarded by the New York State Homes and Community Renewal and syndicated by National Equity Fund, New York State Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, New York State Office of Mental Health, and the County of Suffolk.  Operations are supported by NYS Office of Mental Health and 30 Project-Based Veteran’s Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the New York State Housing Trust Fund.

Liberty Village is the recipient of the 2015 Smart Growth Award for Range of Housing Types by Vision Long Island and the 2015 Solar Project of Distinction by PV America.

Hear from residents of Concern for Independent Living properties here.

Learn more about how the Housing Credit serves veterans here.