By Phil Corso
There’s a new home for 160 residents on the road to recovery in Queens Village.
Three agencies joined together last week to celebrate the opening of three buildings on the eastern side of the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center campus.
In addition, former state Sen. Frank Padavan and Eve Hazel, executive director for Transitional Services for New York Inc., each had a residency named in their honor.
“We’re very happy to honor the both of them,” said Abbey Goldstein, president of the Transitional Services board of directors. “They’ve both been so important in making today possible.”
A naming ceremony and ribbon-cutting officially marked the opening of the 74th Avenue A building, the Frank Padavan Residence and the Hazel House, celebrating the culmination of a $7 million project funded by city and state grants.
“These new facilities will allow people who have been marginalized to live in a place that’s fit for all people,” Goldstein said.
Transitional Services for New York joined with the Federation of Organizations and the Association for Rehabilitative Case Management and Housing to open the buildings. They will house local residents with mental disabilities and those in need of rehabilitation.
“Our new house is now a home,” said Amy Hoffman, president of the ACMH board of directors. “We hope people living here will go on to greater independence in our community.”
Transitional Services for New York houses 650 residents throughout Queens, Bronx and Nassau counties, plus 3,000 in various programs.
The facilities will house residents diagnosed with mental disabilities and will serve as a transitional home for them to recover, group officials said. The patients, mostly from Queens,will come from other facilities within Transitional Services and must be approved by the company and be deemed recoverable before receiving a spot.
Padavan, who was praised for his long history in advocating for mental health, said he was proud to see nearly 15 years of collaboration between the three agencies come to a head.
“It’s great to help in providing those in need with an alternative they wouldn’t otherwise have,” Padavan said. “This is one major step in utilizing this property in meaningful ways and providing alternatives to the mentally disabled.”
Jackie Schweitzer, president of the Federation of Organizations board of directors, said she was thrilled to be a part of what she called a miraculous joining of three agencies to better the local community. Her company CEO Barbara Faron joined her.
“Today is an incredible achievement of our staff,” Faron said. “This is an outstanding place where people can live and grow. It’s money well spent.”
State Assembly members David Weprin (D-Little Neck), Edward Braunstein (D-Bayside), Grace Meng (D-Flushing) and Barbara Clark (D-Queens Village), were on hand to praise the efforts of the three agencies for providing services to those in need.
“I’ve toured the new facilities and they are absolutely gorgeous,” Braunstein said.
Meng said she was happy to see the local community benefit.
“We’re making our community stronger and healthier,” she said.
The elected officials praised Padavan for his extensive efforts in advocating for mental health.
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573
