No Decision on Homeless Shelter Resolution

Residents in opposition of a second  homeless shelter being opened in their community voiced their concerns at a meeting held Friday with Suffolk lawmakers.

Members of the county legislature's Human Services Committee reviewed a resolution proposed by Legis. John M. Kennedy (R- Nesconset), that called on the county to end their contract with Community Housing Initiatives, which runs the shelter, saying the county violated its own code by housing more than 12 families in the facility. No decision was made as lawmakers decided to table the resolution.

The shelter, located in Hauppauge, currently houses 96 families and is within two miles of another shelter in Brentwood, prompting residents to ask why they are receiving what they believe is a disproportionate amount of homeless families in their area.

"These are within walking distance of each other," said Thomas Gilfeather, a resident of Brentwood. "It is unfair why these shelters are flooding this area. I am baffled as to why they are in a mile-and-a-half of each other."

The county, which has typically used several small sized shelters, is in the process of turning the Hauppauge shelter into a Tier 2 facility, which would allow it to house more families. The move, Kennedy said, was one neither he nor the school district was notified of.

“The county, without notification to the town, to me or the school district, elected to promote a wildly different use. This is not appropriate or a use we want to promote,” said Kennedy. Chairman of the Human Services Committee, DuWayne Gregory, said he was not made aware of the potential change either.

According to Kennedy, the Hauppauge and Brentwood shelters together could house 379 families.  He added that county law allows for no more than four shelters, or 48 families within a two-mile radius.

Legis. Thomas Barraga,(R- West Islip), said that the number of families could “have a huge impact on this hamlet.”

Barrigata asked acting Social Services Commissioner John O'Neill if it were possible to get the shelter to a more feasible number of families.

“Why not have an overall goal to reduce the number down to something more reasonable. As someone moves out, you do not replace.”

Barrgata said the county two years ago had several smaller shelters.

“I have no issues with opening smaller shelters,” said O’Neil. “This was the hand I was dealt.”

The resolution will be reviewed again on Nov. 25 at a 10 a.m. meeting of the County Legislature’s Human Services Committee at 725 Veteran’s Hwy. in the North County Complex in Smithtown.