Nassau County - Long Island, New York

Mangano Welcomes Clarkin Family Of Mineola To New Habitat For Humanity Home

Habitat For Humanity

Clarkins Move In Thanks to Public-Private Partnership between

Nassau County, Habitat for Humanity, Disability Opportunity Fund

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today welcomed the Clarkin family,made up of twelve siblings, seven of whom are developmentally disabled adults, totheir brand-new home in Mineola, made possible through a public-private partnership between Nassau County, Habitat for Humanity of Nassau County (HFHNC), and the Disability Opportunity Fund (DOF). When the Clarkin parents passed away, the siblings took over the home which in time fell into a state of disrepair and was declared uninhabitable by the State of New York. Habitat for Humanity of Nassau County took over the repairs on the house and began construction in May 2011, thanks to $175,000 in Federal funds from the County’s HOME Investment Partnership Program, and a $150,000 line of credit and help with appliance and material purchases from the DOF, along with volunteers from throughout Nassau County.

“Thanks to cooperative efforts of government, non-for-profits, the private sector, and our local communities, the Clarkin family will have the safe and comfortable home they deserve. It’s because of the hard work of so many volunteers that they will remain together as a family in the house they grew up in,” said County Executive Mangano. “I am pleased that Nassau County was able to provide funding to move this project forward and I am pleased to welcome the Clarkin family to this wonderful new home.”

The Clarkin home is energy-star rated and fully incorporated with “aging-in-place” design concepts that will increase the likelihood that the Clarkins can remain independent throughout the coming years. These designs include wider doorways and staircases to accommodate wheelchairs and wheelchair lifts, and state-of-the-art technology to allow for the future installation of cameras and an intercom system if necessary.

“It is the public-private partnership with Nassau County that made today’s move-in for the Clarkin family so appealing,” Charlie Hammerman, President and CEO of the Disability Opportunity Fund said. “It has been a long road, but the Clarkins are finally home!”

The County Executive was joined by Mayor Scott P. Strauss, Mayor of the Village of Mineola; Kay McKiernan, President of HFHNC; Tom Baccarella, Director of Operations, HFHNC; Charles Hammerman, President and CEO of the Disability Opportunity Fund; Bob Lopez, Acting Director, Long Island Developmental Disabilities Services; Margaret Stadnicky, Community Service Administrator, Long Island Development Disabilities Services; Ray Strasser and Nina Foley, HFHNC Board Members and weekly volunteers; Girl Scout Troop 1422; members of the H. Frank Carey High School Habitat for Humanity Club; and other volunteers and local community members.