Plan due soon on homeless sex offenders

Suffolk Social Services officials say they will take the first steps within two weeks to set up a network of mini-shelters for homeless sex offenders throughout the county to replace trailers in Southampton that have stirred protests and lawsuits.

Social Services Commissioner Gregory Blass said officials would begin contract talks with Haven House/Bridges Inc., after the County Legislature on Tuesday overrode County Executive Steve Levy's veto of a measure permitting Haven House to provide mini-shelters. Suffolk currently houses between 21 and 26 homeless offenders nightly in trailers outside the county jail near downtown Riverhead and on county-owned property in Westhampton.

"We intend to carry through with the legislative . . . directive," said Blass, stressing that Levy still prefers the use of vouchers for the offenders to obtain their own nightly accommodations.

"It's long-awaited and terrifically good news," said Southampton Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, whose town sued the county over the trailers, which sparked a four-year battle. "The community should be commended for its activism, tenacity and holding the county's feet to the fire."

Backers say the mini-shelters would spread the burden fairly throughout the county. The measure would allow a total of six shelters, with round-the-clock supervision, in industrial areas. No town or legislative district would have more than one, and no shelter could have more than six residents. Haven House's proposal also calls for curfews, room inspections, random urine and breath tests, and requirements to attend training and counseling programs.

"It's the closest thing to civil confinement without a state law," said Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) who originated the new plan. "My main concern is public safety. . . . Vouchers provide no oversight at all."

Levy prefers $90-a-night vouchers for motels because they do not cause the furor that shelters do. "As soon as a location is announced," said Levy, "the local legislator is going to put in a resolution to ban it and there will be a lawsuit from the civic association to stop it."

Blass said shelter contracts normally take about 60 days to complete. But this one may take longer because it is a new initiative, he said. He also hoped the contractor starts seeking sites during talks.

"If experience means anything, we'll be able to do it, and do it well," said Bruno LaSpina, Haven House's chief executive. He said his agency has worked for the county since 1988 and runs seven shelters for homeless families.

Blass said the new initiative will likely cost more than the trailers because it includes more intensive supervision and programs, though he could not be specific. The cost has ranged from $1 million in 2009 to between $500,000 and $600,000 last year, officials said.

Legis. Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk), sponsor of the Haven House resolution, believes the first of the shelters could be open by summer. "And if it costs a little more to keep the community safe, we should do it."