In the midst of a disturbing rise in heroin abuse and deaths on Long Island and across the nation, Supervisor Kate Murray announced the Town of Hempstead’s pledge to increase funding and support to local community groups that provide drug addiction counseling and related services for neighbors in need.
In addition to Hempstead Town’s ongoing grant assistance program for community organizations and youth groups, Murray announced that Hempstead Town is now committing a total of $100,000 in grant monies to the Yes Counseling Center of Levittown and New Horizon Counseling Center of Valley Stream (formerly Peninsula Counseling Center) to assist in those organizations’ drug and other related addiction counseling services.
“The rise in heroin usage in our area and across the country has become an alarming and deadly trend,” Murray said. “We’re thankful that there are dedicated organizations out there in our communities providing counseling services to youth and adults, and we want to do what we can to assist them in their endeavors to help victims of drug addiction and abuse.”
New Horizon Counseling Center and Yes Community Counseling Center, provide a variety of important services, including those battling with drug addiction and substance abuse. Pending Town Board approval, the grants, totaling $50,000 each, are to be distributed to Yes Community Counseling Center and the New Horizon Counseling Center through the town’s Department of Planning and Economic Development. The monies have been secured through federal Community Development Block Grant funding.
“There are no economic boundaries to this serious heroin epidemic,” Murray said. “This deadly drug is impacting our families, our friends and our neighbors, and we must do everything in our power to stop it from victimizing our loved ones and destroying more lives.”
Earlier this year, Hempstead Town presented a $25,000 grant to the Oceanside Counseling Center, which provides services for those struggling with addiction, and an array of other support programs for neighbors. This was one of several grants, as funds were distributed to several groups, including those that provide mentoring and recreational programs for youths.
“Taking on the troubling heroin epidemic is an important task, and it starts by supporting those whoIn W mentor and serve the youth of our communities,” Murray said. “However, as heroin-related deaths continue to rise, it’s also essential to provide counseling and rehabilitation services to those struggling with drug addiction. We know that our support will play a role in assisting neighbors in reversing this disturbing trend.”
