Residents in Glendale now have more ammunition to strike back against the proposed homeless shelter.
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli found financial irregularities in an audit by the state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), in which non-profit Samaritan Village is charging the state nearly $1 million for “unallowable, inappropriate, questionable or undocumented expenses.”
The mishandling of funds is significant because Samaritan Village is in negotiations with the city Department of Homeless Services to operate a 125-family transitional housing facility in Glendale with a five year, $27 million contract. However, the community has rallied against the proposal since it was submitted last year.
Samaritan Village provides residential, outpatient and treatment services in the city under a five-year, $73.3 million contract for OASAS. The agency reimburses Samaritan Village for the net costs it incurs to provide the services.
In response to the findings, Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi penned a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Gilbert Taylor, asking to suspend contract negotiations for the non-profit with the city regarding the Glendale homeless shelter.
“These findings from the state’s top financial office deserve consideration from your administration when determining whether the city of New York should enter into a new extended contract with an organization that is currently being cited for potential operational deficiencies,” Hevesi’s letter said. “It is appropriate for the city of New York to suspend further consideration of new contracts with this entity until further investigation.”
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