CDA Board Approves $150,000 Federal Grant Application for Recreation Center Accessibility

The Patchogue Community Development Agency unanimously approved a resolution to apply for $150,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding from the Town of Brookhaven, with plans to improve accessibility at the Joseph E. Keys Recreation Center.

Board members gathered March 2nd for their monthly meeting, where they discussed several key initiatives including the grant application that would fund crucial accessibility improvements behind the recreation center. The project focuses on removing architectural barriers that currently prevent disabled individuals from accessing the soccer field, basketball courts and community gardens.

David Bell, administrative assistant for Brookhaven's Department of Housing and Community Development, explained that the funding falls under federal requirements to serve low to moderate income residents and remove barriers for disabled persons. The proposed work includes installing curb cuts and pathways where none currently exist, forcing visitors in wheelchairs to traverse grass areas that become impassable during inclement weather.

Major Financial Activity

Teresa Reilly  presented the monthly financial report showing significant housing assistance activity. The CDA wrote 71 checks totaling $261,742 during the February 3rd to March 2nd period, including $258,593 in Section 8 housing payments for 69 participants and port-outs.

The approved grant application allocates the $150,000 across three categories: $15,000 for administration, $20,000 for public services including housing information and referral, and $115,000 for public improvements focused on the recreation center accessibility project.

New Federal Requirements Create Compliance Challenges

Bell informed the board about a significant new federal requirement that will affect all housing assistance recipients. Starting this year, all participants in federal housing programs must verify their citizenship or legal residency status through the USCIS SAVE system, a 1998 regulation now being actively enforced by the current administration.

This verification process requires housing authorities to collect government-issued photo identification and Social Security numbers for all household members, then submit this information to federal immigration services for approval. The requirement applies to both new applicants and current program participants, with no exceptions.

Board members expressed concerns about how this policy might affect mixed-status families and whether it could discourage eligible residents from applying for assistance. Bell acknowledged the challenges, noting that HUD has provided limited guidance on implementing the new verification system.

Board Leadership Changes

The meeting also touched on upcoming governance restructuring, with board member Lizbeth Carrillo being considered for the role of governance committee chair following her recent return from a national housing consortium training conference in Las Vegas. Both Lizbeth and fellow board member David Kennedy  attended the multi-day training session and plan to present their findings at the next meeting.