SURF VETS PLACE

Brooklyn, NY

Located one block from Coney Island beach and boardwalk, Surf Vets Place offers supportive apartments for 82 formerly homeless Veterans, as well as one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments for 52 households with incomes at or below 50 percent and 60percent of area median income.  Building amenities include a community room, exercise room, computer room, laundry facilities, and rooftop terraces.  Due to its close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Surf Vets Place was designed with an array of flood mitigation and protection measures.  Surf Vets Place also includes approx. 7,000 square feet of commercial space.  In addition, Concern for Independent Living, Inc (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.

Despite a rally of activity and transformation, Coney Island was slow to recover from the effects of Superstorm Sandy.  Surf Vets Place was part of an overall Comprehensive Plan to revitalize Coney Island.  It fills a need for community space, affordable housing, and addresses the needs of our veterans.  This development represented an important part of the Governor’s and the Mayor’s plans to rebuild New York City to be better and stronger than before Superstorm Sandy by investing City and State funds in those areas hardest hit by the storm.  This housing also represents the solution to getting our veterans out of shelters and into the high quality housing that they deserve.

Surf Vets Place was developed as a joint venture between Concern for Independent Living, Inc. and Georgica Green Ventures, LLC.  It was made possible through Tax Exempt Bonds awarded by New York State Housing Finance Agency, Low Income Housing Tax Credits 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 New York City Housing Preservation and Development.  Operations are supported by New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, New York State Office of Mental Health and 82 Project-Based Section 8 vouchers provided New York City Housing Authority.

Learn more about Surf Vets Place and hear from residents here.

Learn more about how the Housing Credit serves veterans here.