Monday, April 21, 2025
Options for Community Living is planning a one-year anniversary celebration for The Smith at Freeport, an affordable housing development that has provided stability and support to some of Long Island’s most vulnerable residents.
The March 27 event, which will take place from 12 to 2 p.m. in the building’s community room, will feature lunch, dessert and remarks from staff, residents and local officials.
Established in 1982, Options for Community Living was originally founded in response to the closure of psychiatric facilities across the state.
Many individuals struggling with mental health issues were left without housing or resources, prompting the creation of the nonprofit to provide safe, supportive housing.
During the past 43 years, the group has expanded across Long Island, managing more than 160 residential properties and serving over 2,000 individuals annually.
The Smith at Freeport, at 206 Smith Street, developed in partnership with Regan Development Corporation, transformed a vacant property into a 31-unit affordable housing complex. Ten of these units are specifically designated for individuals recovering from serious and persistent mental health conditions.
According to Vicki Perks, donor engagement manager for Options, the project has been life changing for its residents.
“We were able to take 10 formerly homeless individuals recovering from a serious and persistent mental health diagnosis and bring them into safe, stable and permanent housing, and we were also able to fully furnish the apartments for them,” Perks said. “So these are individuals who either, you know, were in shelters or doubled up on somebody’s couch … many of them, for the first time, had their own key to open their own door to their apartment.”
Perks emphasized that beyond providing housing, Options also ensures that residents receive ongoing case management.
“It’s amazing to watch how they flourished,” she said, “which is a true testament to, you know, how if somebody has a roof over their head and knows where their next meal is coming from, then they really could focus on gaining employment, or seeking the treatments that they may need.”
Options CEO Yolanda Robano-Gross echoed the importance of supportive housing, particularly in the face of Long Island’s housing crisis.
“It’s a tough time for affordable housing,” Robano-Gross said. “For people, it’s a tough time to kind of get your foot in the door somewhere, and make a home and make a life on Long Island, even with a job and a college education. It’s amazing to me that the year is 2025, and there’s still a lot of stigma around things like mental health. It’s almost incomprehensible to me — one in four individuals have some sort of a mental health diagnosis.”
The Smith at Freeport was strategically placed to allow residents easy access to essential services, transportation and community resources.
“You want people to be a part of their community, right?” Robano-Gross said. “So you want to make sure that that community is accessible to them. You don’t want people to be, you know, miles away from anything they could get to.”
The anniversary event will highlight the successes of The Smith’s first year, featuring testimonials from residents, remarks from staff, and a citation from Freeport’s very own Mayor Robert Kennedy.
Attendees will also be given the opportunity to tour the apartments, with one resident volunteering to guide visitors.
“It’s important for people to see firsthand what this type of housing looks like,” Perks said. “When I tell you, I would be thrilled to live in a beautiful apartment in this building — you know, it’s really just top-notch.”
While the event is invitation-only for safety reasons, Options encourages the community to support its mission in other ways, such as donating, volunteering or by attending fundraising events.
The organization is scheduled to hold a “Comedy Night for a Cause” on April 17, which will help raise crucial funds for its programs.
“We receive funding, you know, through the state and different grants,” Perks said. “But unfortunately that funding is restricted. So we’re always looking for unrestricted funding. We’re always looking for volunteers. We have amazing thrift shop located in Ronkonkoma that is run by our volunteers. We only have one paid staff member.”
Perks added that donations are needed to provide clients with personal hygiene supplies, non-perishable food items, and more. Interested parties can also hold drives on behalf of the organization.
For more information about Options for Community Living and how to get involved, visit OptionScl.org.
