In the News

A Helping Hand from Zap My Tax

Smithtown, NY - Options for Community Living, Inc. operates residential programs for adults with mental illness, a shelter program for Suffolk County families who are homeless, and a case management and housing program for people living with HIV/AIDS in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties. All program participants have very low incomes and are often in crisis due to debilitating illness or disability.

Options Housing Program Awarded Federal Reinvestment Funds for Green Improvements

Smithtown, NY - Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, $250 Million in loans and grants became available nationwide for “energy and green retrofits” to existing multifamily assisted housing. Options for Community Living, Inc. sought funding and was awarded $198,000 to make green improvements to its supported housing program for adults with mental illness.

Coalition Recognizes Exemplary Service

Suffolk County, NY-- On January 13, Options Deputy Program Director, Georgia Kuhen, was honored at a luncheon held by the Board of Directors and staff of the Nassau Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless for her 18 years of volunteer service to the organization and her tireless advocacy on behalf of Long Islanders in need.

(Photo: Greta Guarton, Executive Director, NSCH and Georgia Kuhen)

Spreading Holiday Spirit

Smithtown, NY--- While so many Long Islanders are struggling to make ends meet, giving to others less fortunate during the holidays is even more meaningful. Thanks to the generosity of a number of individuals, groups and private organizations many of our residents and families receiving services enjoyed a wonderful holiday season. Pictured: Volunteers from the Society of St. Vincent De Paul with Options’ Program Case Managers.

Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids

Smithtown, NY -- This winter, Payless Shoesource partnered with nonprofit agencies throughout the country in a grass roots campaign to deliver $1.2 million in free shoes to children of families in need. With more than 2,900 nonprofits applying, Options was among 700 organizations selected. Thanks to the 2009 Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids Program, 75 gift certificates for new shoes were delivered to families in need in Options' programs just in time for the holiday season.

Chatterton Student Council Answers Community Need

Merrick, NY -- Student Council Members at Roland Chatterton Elementary School in Merrick organized a collection of everyday needs and hygiene items for low-income families receiving services from Options for Community Living, Inc.

The school-wide collection resulted in 61 gift bags stocked with toothpaste, lip balm, shampoo, soap, cotton swabs, lotion, batteries and more. Jennifer Baldwin, Options Program Supervisor, met the students and picked up the gift bags.

"The students were really great" said Jen. "We are very appreciative of the students, their families, the school, and the Student Council Advisor, Angela Kremberg, for taking on this effort."

Bette's Knitting Circle Spreading Holiday Cheer

Smithtown, NY-- Members of Bette's Knitting Circle meet once monthly at the Gurwin Geriatric Nursing Facility to create beautiful hand made items which they donate to people in need. This is the third year that the circle has been able to provide our program participants with colorful knitted and crocheted scarves for the holidays. Thirty scarves were donated by this talented and generous group.

(photo l to r: Bette Spodek, Diane Mendolia, and Denise Waterhouse)

Community Service Options for Business Students

Medford, NY – This fall, Honors Ethics students at the College of Business at Stony Brook University had the opportunity to partner with an area not-for-profit agency to work on a community service project. In September, a group of four students began their project working with Options for Community Living Inc. Development Specialist, Denise Waterhouse.

(photo L to R: Options employee, Kristine Farrell with Students, John, Dan, Amanda and Diana)

Motorola Employees Roll Up Their Sleeves

Holtsville, NY-- On Wednesday, October 14, 2009, more than 8,000 Motorola employees in 41

countries across the globe took part in the company's annual program dedicated to community service.

More than 20 Motorola volunteers spent the day improving the landscape at a home for adults with disabilities owned by Options for Community Living, Inc. With programs that serve over 1000 adults and children each year and more than 150 units of housing throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties, Options gladly welcomed this enthusiastic offer to help.

“Everyone came prepared with work gloves, rakes, and shovels” said Nikki Nelson, Options Program Manager. “They worked as a team and accomplished much more than we asked for or expected.”

The Global Day of Service is organized by Motorola volunteers with the Motorola Foundation, which has sustained the company's rich heritage of giving since 1953. Options is grateful for this tremendous support.

A Fresh Start for a New School Year

Smithtown, NY— This fall, children assisted through Option’s programs serving very low income families, received brand new backpacks filled with assorted supplies to start off the new school year. Donations were received through the Nassau/Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless.

Options employee, Olivia, pictured with more than 30 backpacks for children helped by our programs.

Greenhouse Repaired and Refreshed

Medford, NY-- During one of the warmest weeks of this past summer, Options Building Mechanics, Winton Johnson and Carl Delahunt, set to the task of making substantial repairs to Options Greenhouse. The greenhouse which serves as a pre-vocational training program where residents with mental illness learn basic horticultural skills was aging and in need of some major renovation.

Senator Brian X. Foley visits local group home

East Islip, NY--- In December, 2007, Options for Community Living, Inc. opened a community residence in East Islip for adults recovering from mental illness. This summer, Senator Brian X. Foley, paid a visit to the group home. Greeted by Options’ staff, the Senator had an opportunity to meet several residents, tour the home and learn more about the program.

(photo l to r: Diane Mendolia, Senator Brian Foley, Diana Arens and Georgia Kuhen.)

New Supportive Housing Project Opens Doors

Suffolk County, NY--- This summer, Options completed renovations to four new supportive housing sites. Three adults live independently in each home, and receive regular visits from an Options Case Manager. One of the homes is adapted to be handicapped accessible for residents in need of accommodation. Situated near public transportation, residents are able to access community resources easily.

Supportive housing is long term, affordable housing linked to services. It provides low-income, disabled and formerly homeless people the help and support they need to stay housed and live independent, healthy and fulfilling lives. Supportive housing is the single most effective, and most cost-efficient, way to reduce homelessness. It strengthens communities and helps integrate people with disabilities and other special needs into the life of their neighborhoods. Options owns and operates over 100 scattered supportive housing sites in the Long Island Region.

Photo (l to r): Diana Arens, Joe Sanseverino, Suffolk County Community Development Office, Robin Sayles.

Teachers Federal Credit Union Volunteers Dig In

Organic Garden for Options’ family takes root

Suffolk County, NY --Equipped with rakes and gloves, seven employees from Teachers Federal Credit Union spent Sunday morning, June 7^th preparing a vegetable garden for a family in an Options for Community Living, Inc. program home. Options provides housing and support services to very low income, disabled and homeless individuals and families on Long Island.

Options 27th Anniversary Gala Honors Town of Islip Leaders

Long Island Agency Celebrates a Milestone

Smithtown, NY – On Thursday, April 23^rd, 2009 Options for Community Living, Inc. celebrated 27 years of service to Long Islanders with a dinner and silent auction at the Watermill Caterers.

Agency founders, Diana Antos Arens, Ph.D., Executive Director, and Diane Mendolia, LCSW, Program Director, were joined by well over 100 supporters who also came to acknowledge Supervisor Phil Nolan and Councilman Christopher D. Bodkin from The Town of Islip for their leadership in the community.

(photo: L to R- Councilman Christopher D. Bodkin, Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan, Michael McClain, President Options Board of Directors, Diane Mendolia, Program Director, Diana Arens, Executive Director.)

Options Awarded Newsday Charities Grant

Uniondale, NY-- This winter Options for Community Living, Inc. was awarded a grant in the sum of $10,000 from Newsday Charities, a fund of the McCormick Foundation. These much needed funds will support expenses for children living with their families in Options' Transitional Housing Program. Options operates 22 scattered emergency shelter sites for families in crisis due to homelessness. Families are referred to the program by Suffolk County Department of Social Services. They are provided with intensive case management services with an emphasis on securing affordable permanent housing. In 2008, the Transitional Housing Program served 35 families with 93 children. The Newsday Charities Grant will support basic needs for the families served by this program.

Photo taken at Newsday Grant Reception March 31, 2009 (L-R Tim Knight, Publisher, Denise Waterhouse, Options, Deidra Parrish Williams, Director Community Affairs, Ken DePaola, Executive VP Sales and Marketing, and Paul Fleishman, VP Public Affairs.)

Options Attends Legislative Rally in Albany

Albany, NY-- On Tuesday, January 27th, Options' staff and residents boarded a bus before dawn headed to Albany. At stake is a proposal to cut the New York State share of Social Security Income benefits for individuals with disabilities. Options was joined by other Association for Community Living (ACL) agencies and friends from the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) and the Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS) to present a solid, powerful legislative agenda and "Protect the Mental Health Safety Net."

Options to develop new Supportive Housing Project

Suffolk County, NY--- This month, Options received notice of approval to expand supportive housing for adults recovering from mental illness. Funding is awarded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program. The award of $2.1 million will provide for acquisition and renovation of four homes in Suffolk County which will accommodate twelve adults.

Bright Hopes this Holiday Season

Smithtown, NY -- Every few months the volunteers from Bright Hopes, Inc. come to Options with a delivery of colorful new one-of-a-kind quilts made specially for children and families in crisis due to homelessness. The quilts belong to them where ever they go. Board members from this community-based project, Eileen Fisher and Carol-Ann Gordon delivered over 30 handmade quilts, for Options' families just in time for the holidays.

(photo: Eileen Fisher, Bright Hopes with Suzanne Arcario, Options)

New Developments in Nassau

Nassau County, NY – Bright rooms with new windows, fresh paint, hardwood floors, updated kitchen fixtures, appliances and new tiling all await a family soon to move into a beautifully renovated home.

Options Awarded "Non-Profit Partner of the Year"

The Stony Brook University Career Center Celebrates Partnerships

Stony Brook, NY -- On Thursday, September 20, Diana Antos Arens, Ph.D. Executive Director, Diane Mendolia, Program Director, Georgia Kuhen, Deputy Program Director, Allison Covino, Deputy Program Director, and Elsa Fiore, Human Resources Director, attended a reception hosted by the Career Center at Stony Brook University.

Fire Devastates Options Thrift Shop

Lake Ronkonkoma, NY---On Friday, August 17^th, a fire caused serious damage to the Options Thrift Shop located at 392 Hawkins Avenue. The fire occurred at about 3:00am and was reported by a passing taxi-cab driver. Thankfully, the building was unoccupied and no one was injured. Officials from the Town of Brookhaven Division of Fire Prevention and the Suffolk County Police Department Arson Squad are investigating the cause of the fire.

25 Years of "Options" for people in need

Smithtown, NY -- On Thursday, April 19, 2007 Options for Community Living, Inc. celebrated 25 years of service to Long Islanders with a dinner and silent auction to be held at the Watermill Caterers in Smithtown.

Agency founders, Diana Antos Arens, Ph.D., Executive Director and Diane Mendolia, LCSW, Program Director were joined by 200 supporters who also came to acknowledge the contributions of honoree, Reverend Fred Hill, Chaplain, St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center.

NY Assemblyman James Conte visits group home

Huntington Station, NY--- Twelve adults recovering from mental illness share household chores and work toward independent living at the Options' community residence that has operated in Huntington Station for the last 23 years. On Friday, April 27, Assemblyman James Conte visited the group home as well as two smaller homes for individuals who with support and assistance, live independently.

Assemblyman Conte was interested in the progress made by Options' program participants. "It was a pleasure to witness first-hand, how Options is preparing these hardworking adults to live independently. I applaud their efforts," said the Assemblyman representing Huntington Station.