History & Accomplishments
Concern was originally founded as "Concerned Friends and Parents of Central Islip State Hospital" in 1972 to provide advocacy for patients. For over 32 years, we have provided supportive services to individuals with psychiatric disabilities and their families. Concern began operating housing for persons with psychiatric disabilities more than 20 years ago. We were among the first operators of licensed Community Residences in Suffolk County, and have been used as a model for the development of similar programs.

Over the years Concern has:
• Developed a job training thrift shop at Central Islip State Hospital in 1973.
• Established the first client run thrift shop in Suffolk County in 1979 in Port Jefferson.
• Received the first HHAP grant on Long Island to develop 18 community residence beds in Port Jefferson (1984).
• Opened a 15-bed Intensive Supportive Scattered Site Apartment program in 1986.
• Opened a 15-bed Supportive Scattered Site Apartment program in 1987.
• Started the first Supported Housing Program in Suffolk County in 1989
• Opened the first newly constructed Community Residence on Long Island in 1991.
• Opened the first scattered site, permanent housing on Long Island using HUD 202 funds in May, 1992.
• Opened the client-run home, lawn and garden maintenance business in April, 1993.
• Opened Project Share II, a 15-bed HUD 811 supportive housing program in April, 1994.
• Opened a 40 bed supported housing program funded by the New York State Community Reinvestment Act in January, 1995.
• Opened Opportunities, a 20-bed program for people who are homeless and have a psychiatric disability in July, 1995.
• Opened Opportunities II, a 20-bed Shelter Plus Care program serving homeless individuals and families with psychiatric disabilities in March, 1996.
• Opened Project Share III, a 15-bed HUD 811 supportive housing program in August, 1996, less than two years after being awarded the grant.
• Opened Project Share IV, a 12-bed HUD 811 supportive housing program in February, 1998. This program is fully operational.
• Opened Project Share V, a 15-bed HUD 811 supportive housing program in November, 1998. This program is fully operational.
• Awarded the 1997 Metropolitan Life Foundation Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing.
• Awarded a grant in April, 1999 from Suffolk County to provide housing to 12 families where at least one member has a psychiatric disability. This program is fully operational.
• Opened HHAP2, a program proving permanent housing with comprehensive support services for four homeless families with psychiatric disabilities in 2002.
• Opened Project Share VI, a 12-bed HUD 811 supportive housing program in 1999. This program is fully operational.
• Opened Project Share VII, a 12-bed HUD 811 supportive housing program, in 2002. This program is fully operational.
• Nominated for a “Best Practices” Award by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development in May, 2000.
• Recognized by the Metropolitan Life Foundation’s Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing in 2000.
• Opened Bright Futures, a permanent housing program for homeless individuals and families, in 2001.
• Opened Opportunities III (Shelter Plus Care program), permanent rental housing for homeless individuals and families with psychiatric disabilities, in 2003. This program was ranked as the Number One priority for our region by an independent Ranking Committee.
• Opened Share IX, a 12-bed HUD 811 supportive housing program, in 2004.
• Recognized as a New York State Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) in 2001.
• Credentialed by CARF under its Community Program component for three years (the longest credentialing period allowed) in 2002.
• Opened HHAP3, permanent housing for four (4) homeless families in which at least one adult has a psychiatric disability, in 2004.
• Received Fund Reservation for Share X, a HUD 811 project under the Independent Living Apartment model, in 2002. This is an innovative project, combining single-family houses and one-, two- and three-bedroom condominium units to create a variety of housing alternatives for the participants of this program. This program will provide permanent supportive housing to five families and four individuals. We are awaiting initial closing on this project.
• Received Fund Reservation for Share XI, a HUD 811 project, in 2003. This project includes the use of five two-bedroom condominium units under the group home model.
• Received a grant from the McCarthy Foundation in the amount of $50,000 in 2003.
• Opened HHAP4, permanent housing for four (4) homeless families in which at least one adult has a psychiatric disability in 2004. Capital funding was awarded through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
• Received a funding award for Opportunities IV, a McKinney Shelter Plus Care permanent housing program for homeless individuals and families with psychiatric disabilities, in 2003. This program was ranked as the Number One priority for our region by an independent Ranking Committee.
• Opened Share VIII, a 12-bed HUD 811 supportive housing program in 2003.
• Awarded Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to develop a 50-unit CR-SRO program at the former site of the Henry Perkins Adult Home in Riverhead, New York. Additional capital and support services funding for this project were awarded by the New York State Office of Mental Health. This project is expected to open in 2006.
• Awarded Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to develop a 50-unit CR-SRO program at the former site of the Family Lodge Adult Home in West Sayville, New York. Additional capital and support services funding for this project were awarded by the New York State Office of Mental Health. This project is expected to open in 2006.
• Received fund reservation for HUD 811 capital funding for the development of two 25-unit CR-SRO programs at the former site of the South Country Adult Home (this is the same location as this proposed project) in 2004. Additional capital and support services funding for this project was conditionally awarded by the New York State Office of Mental Health (contingent upon a HUD capital grant award). This project is anticipated to open in 2006.
• Awarded a four-year SRO-Support Services grant through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance for case management services in 2004.
• Received funding from OTDA for a case manager position for Concern’s original Supported Housing beds in 2004. This funding will be provided for four years, after which it can be renewed.

 
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