March 8, 2007

Suozzi Appoints Committee to Develop 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness

County Receives $7 Million in Federal HUD Grants to Fund Homeless Services

Mineola, N.Y. - Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi today introduced the members of the Nassau Committee to End Homelessness, which he appointed and charged with developing a 10-year plan to tackle chronic homelessness. The 30-member committee is made up of non-profit and faith-based service providers, government officials and three formerly homeless people.

The committee’s appointment marks the next stage in the County’s on-going campaign to prevent and end homelessness. The County has already made great strides on this front. Since 2003, 617 homeless families that had previously lived in shelters and motels - at an average monthly cost to the county of $4,000 per household - have moved into permanent housing, most with the assistance of federal housing vouchers and at no cost to the county. Additionally, 1,605 individuals who called (866) WARMBED, the county’s homeless hotline, were placed in shelters - and 30% of those are now receiving the services they need to lead healthy and productive lives.

“The County has been very aggressive and very successful in helping to prevent at-risk families and individuals from becoming chronically homeless,” Suozzi said. “The Nassau Committee to End Homelessness will build upon these successes, and take this important work to the next level - combating chronic homelessness. The chronically homeless all too often remain hidden, living in dangerous, dirty and unhealthy conditions. We are committed to ensuring they get the help and the services they need - in the most cost-efficient manner possible.”

Officials from the federal Housing and Urban Development agency today presented the County with two checks, totaling more than $7 million, to fund many vital homeless services. The Nassau Continuum of Care Group, an umbrella group of homeless service providers, applied for HUD funds and received $6.5 million, and the county received more than $600,000 to fund emergency shelter.

“HUD is delighted that Nassau County, under the able leadership of Tom Suozzi, has joined with hundreds of other communities across this country to address their homeless population,” said Sean Moss, HUD Regional Director for New York and New Jersey. “I also want to congratulate the Nassau County Continuum of Care for receiving $6.5 million in HUD funding to support the housing and service needs of its homeless population.”

Committee Chair Marge Rogatz, president of Community Advocates, a nonprofit that has promoted low-cost housing in Nassau County since 1972, said, “Everyone on this committee is dedicated to addressing homelessness in Nassau County. The committee represents a model of how the public and private sectors can work together to seek solutions to serious community and regional problems.”

The committee is expected to present its plan within the next six months.