Long Island programs win about $2.3M to support crime victims

Nine Long Island agencies have been awarded about $2.3 million of mostly federal funds through the state to fund crime victims programs.

"This funding helps ensure that people who are the victims of a crime can receive the support and assistance they need to recover," Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said in a news release.

The state's Office of Victim Services director Elizabeth Cronin said, "Whether it is providing temporary housing for a domestic violence survivor or counseling for an abused child, these programs provide a critical role in helping crime victims negotiate the road to recovery."

The recipients were Brighter Tomorrows, in Shirley, $77,575 to assist all crime victims in Suffolk; the EAC Network, in Hauppauge, $127,790 to serve victims of child abuse in Suffolk; Mothers Against Drunk Driving, in Huntington Station, $134,504 to assist victims of drunken driving in Suffolk, as well as in Albany and Oswego counties; and the Nassau County Crime Victims Project, in Mineola, $153,936 to assist crime victims.

Others were Parents for Megan's Law, in Ronkonkoma, three grants totaling $221,016 for services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Suffolk; Retreat Inc., in East Hampton, $164,234 to help domestic violence victims in Suffolk; the Suffolk County district attorney, $151,377, to help crime victims; The Safe Center LI, in Bethpage, three grants totaling $559,896 to serve victims of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assaults in Nassau County; and the Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk, three grants totaling $786,908 to serve victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes.

Cynthia Scott, executive director of the Bethpage agency, said: "It's a great opportunity for us to continue to serve some of the most vulnerable members of our community, and it is extremely important to have this support."