LI veterans need more permanent and affordable housing

The closing of a Yaphank shelter for homeless veterans marks a moment of transition for Long Island.

It is, on the one hand, worthy of celebration, as officials at the shelter said there's less need for temporary housing for homeless veterans. But it is also an opportunity: The Island needs to turn its focus to developing far more housing that's permanent and truly affordable, accompanied by appropriate supportive services, for veterans across the region.

The Veterans Place, which was run by the Association for Mental Health and Wellness and its subsidiary, Suffolk County United Veterans, had 23 beds earmarked for homeless vets. While the shelter was nearly full before the pandemic, when it closed earlier this year only 16 beds were filled, and just half of those residents were veterans.

That doesn't mean Long Island veterans don't need assistance. Some use other options such as federal Department of Veterans Affairs temporary housing. But more of our vets need better permanent housing choices.

The Association for Mental Health and Wellness offers 10 homes across Suffolk exclusively for veterans. Some are group homes, with four or five veterans housed in each; others might be used by a single family. Organizations like the Association offer mental health and other supportive services to veteran residents, along with peer-to-peer assistance that importantly provides a more informal community of veterans to support one another. That's one model for how additional housing across Long Island could be developed.

Also key are larger projects, like those developed by Concern for Independent Living. Liberty Landing in Lake Ronkonkoma, with 59 units, and Liberty Village in Amityville with 60 units, are examples of developments that feature deeply affordable housing and supportive services, with about half the units typically earmarked for veterans. As of now, all completed projects are in Suffolk, though Concern has proposed one for Hempstead Village.

But even veterans housing, which communities often support more than other projects, can face uphill battles to get necessary approvals from villages and towns. Putting out a welcome sign for veterans in your neighborhood would be a notable way to develop a true sense of community.

There's more to do. Advocates for veterans and those involved in housing efforts say the Island should also address the needs of its female veterans, since many group homes now predominantly house men. Veteran-led families, too, need help. The services required in those situations may be different, especially when children are involved.

Of particular concern: the many Vietnam War veterans who are aging and require medical attention, housing that allows them to age in place, and other necessities they may not have needed before. All of that requires resources, with a mix of private and public funding often fueling the effort.

Long Island has long made it a priority to take care of its veterans. Even as their needs shift, we must continue to provide for them.