Senator Larkin Announces $1.75 Million For Independent Living Of Newburgh

Senator Bill Larkin (R-C-I, 39^th District) is pleased to announce that Independent Living of Newburgh will be receiving $1,750,000 and will be named an official Recovery and Community Outreach Center by the New York State Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services (NYS OASAS).  Independent Living of Newburgh will receive $350,000 per year for the next five years and will be one of six statewide sites funded for the purpose of serving individuals suffering from substance abuse and communities facing an ever-growing opioid epidemic.

“Senator Bill Larkin was there from the very beginning fighting for us and our community to be chosen as a local Recovery and Community Outreach Center”, said Doug Hovey, President & CEO of Independent Living, Inc.  “I want to thank Senator Larkin and all those involved in this process for allowing us to inch closer to our goal of becoming a regional center that will help integrate important services for our community and help individuals experiencing a chemical addiction.”

“I fully support treatment whenever appropriate,” said Orange County District Attorney Dave Hoovler.  “I thank Senator Larkin for his continued advocacy and believe that funding centers like these are an important part of our multi-faceted approach as we continue to fight to take back our communities.”

As a member of the NYS Senate Task Force on Heroin & Opioid Addiction, Senator Larkin and his colleagues held numerous public forums throughout the state.  One of those forums took place at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center where Independent Living of Newburgh had the opportunity to testify to the needs of those residing in the Hudson Valley. 

“Our Task Force worked very hard to come up with meaningful solutions in an effort to combat what has become one of the deadliest epidemics of our time,” said Senator Bill Larkin.  “One of our many recommendations was treating opioid addiction as a disease and making recovery services readily and widely available.  Advocating OASAS to consider Independent Living of Newburgh as an official Recovery and Community Outreach Center is consistent with this recommendation and will help give our community the additional tools it needs to face this crisis head on.”

The goal for these Recovery and Outreach Centers is to offer a diverse range of recovery support services to help individuals in recovery improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. Services should be accessible not only during daytime hours, but also during evenings and weekends, reflecting the diverse times individuals and families may be available to access services. The menu of available services will be responsive to the local area’s needs and its unmet recovery supports needs, including information and strategies to family members regarding engagement in the treatment process.