Let the Facts Speak for Themselves - from the Patchogue 2012 Team

The following blog post is from the entire Patchogue 2012 Team–Mayor Paul V. Pontieri, Deputy Mayor Jack Kreiger, Trustee Lori B. Devlin and Trustee candidate Tom Ferb–in response to mis-leading and incorrect information regarding Tritec and Section 8 Housing which has recently appeared on Patch in the Local Voices' comments section. We intend to set the record straight.

FACT: James Coughlan, co-founder and principal of Tritec Building Company, is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Community Development Corporation of Long Island (note: a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation), which has assisted over 93,000 Long Islanders and invested $806 million in communities. In the last fiscal year, CDC of Long Island's 95 full-time staff served more than 17,000 people in need of assistance while investing over $85 million.

FACT: Elisabeth McGuire wrote in Patchogue Patch that " It is a little known fact that Tritec’s CEO, James Coughlin, is also Chairman of the Community Development Corporation, (CDC) of Long Island. According to Tritec’s own website, Coughlin manages over 2000 units of Section 8 housing in this capacity." This is a misleading quote. Mr. Coughlan does not manage housing vouchers; he is Chairman of the Board of the CDCLI, which does a lot more that administer the "Section 8" vouchers.

FACT: What Tritec's own website does say is that "Mr. Coughlan is actively involved with a number of charitable and not-for-profit organizations, including being Chairman of the Board for the Community Development Company of Long Island, a not-for-profit organization that has a staff of 92 people, manages over 3500 housing vouchers, and provides affordable housing assistance and community-based lending.

FACTS: Directly from the CDCLI website: History and Overview of Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program provides rental assistance to low-income families through Federal funds administered by the United States Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD). Often referred to by the portion of the legislation that authorized the program, “Section 8” provides assistance to over two million low-income people nationwide each year. Program participants may choose to live anywhere in the United States (some first-year residency requirements apply) and may select their own units, which must meet HUD standards for affordability and for safety. Once tenant and landlord sign a lease, the tenant family is responsible for a portion of their rent depending on
their income, and the HCV program pays the remainder directly to the landlord.

CDC’s role & responsibilities

CDC administers the Housing Choice Voucher program on behalf of two different entities. We are the Suffolk County Local Administrator for the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal’s Housing Choice Voucher program, and we administer the program for the Town of Smithtown. In addition, CDC operates the Mainstream Program for Persons with Disabilities on behalf of four Long Island not-for-profit organizations: Transitional Services of Long Island, the Family & Children’s Association, Options for Community Living, and Mercy Haven. For all programs, CDC oversees tenant eligibility, lease-up, annual recertification, as well as Housing Quality Standards inspections of all units. CDC is committed to the highest quality service provision to all its tenants and landlords on behalf of all its partner organizations. As of December 1, 2008, 3732 families were leased up through the Housing Choice Voucher program, totaling approximately 10,000 individuals living in the assisted households. Approximately half the families have an elderly and/or disabled member. Of the families in the Housing Choice Voucher programs administered by CDC, 212 are participants in the CDC Family Self Sufficiency Program, which helps them move toward economic independence.

FACT: Mrs. McGuire's October 7 misleading statement has now caused people to think that Tritec owns large numbers of "Section 8" housing units. See Patchogue Patch comments December 16. This is not true.

Please visit Tritec's Web site at http://www.tritecrealestate.com/ and click on the
'Projects' button on the right to view the outstanding developments in which they have been involved.