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Suffolk
County Executive Steve Levy Outlines Plans for East End Veterans Clinic at Riverhead County Center
County to Match Funds from $500,000 State Grant
Hauppauge
, NY –
County
Executive Steve Levy announced today that veterans on the East End of Suffolk County will have easier access to essential health services with the creation of a satellite veterans health clinic at the RiverheadCountyCenter
Levy secured a grant from the Suffolk Assembly majority delegation in the amount of $500,000 for the establishment of an East End Veterans Clinic at the RiverheadCountyCenter. The grant, funded by the Dormitory Authority’s Community Enhancement Facilities Assistance Program, will provide half of the funding for the clinic, with SuffolkCounty covering the remaining $500,000.
“There are many veterans living on the East End of the county who do not make use of the services available to them because of the long commute to Northport, or the inaccessibility of the satellite location at GabreskiAirport,” Levy said. “With this new clinic, we can finally offer all veterans of SuffolkCounty the services they deserve with a tolerable commute, and, thanks to this state grant, at a lower cost to county taxpayers.”
“I am proud to have worked with my colleagues in state government to win necessary funding for the East End Veterans Clinic,” said Assemblyman Alessi. “This funding when combined with Suffolk’s matching funds will finally make this project a realization. With more veterans coming home from the Middle East who reside here in Suffolk – these services are literally life saving. These soldiers protected us abroad, so let’s repay their invaluable service by protecting them when they come home.”
Levy added that the location provides the added convenience of being located in the same building as the many other SuffolkCounty offices. Veterans officials have indicated they plan to continue to operate the Gabreski location as well.
Upon completion, the new East End Veterans Clinic will feature a 4,000 square foot facility providing primary and mental health services to any veteran who seeks out care. In addition, a second elevator will be added to the county center in order to provide easier access to the clinic for those veterans with mobility problems.
The Department of Veterans Affairs, an agency of the federal government will staff and equip the premises. The VA will also transport any veteran requiring the few services only available at the NorthportVeteransAffairsCenter, such as CT scans and MRIs, between Riverhead and Northport.
Levy will file a resolution to the Suffolk County Legislature accepting the state grant at the upcoming general meeting on Tuesday, June 24, which will be eligible for a vote in August. The $1 million veterans clinic project will be incorporated into the overall renovation of the RiverheadCountyCenter which is ongoing, and expected to be complete within 18 months.
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