The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) today announced the completion of a $7.5 million renovation project at the Ed Thompson Veterans Center in Queens. The project includes the addition of nearly 10,000 feet of space, which will house 50 beds for veterans undergoing treatment for substance use disorders. OASAS provided the funding for the renovations.

“This renovation project will provide enhanced treatment and services to fight to protect our veterans who risked their lives to keep us safe at home,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Co-Chair of the Heroin and Opioid Task Force. “We’re committed to helping our veterans succeed in all aspects of their daily lives, and helping those struggling with addiction is vital to ensuring their health and safety.”

"Providing substance use disorder care for veterans presents a unique set of challenges, and we owe it to them to do everything we can to meet the needs of those seeking that care,” OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said. “I thank Governor Cuomo for continuing to help expand and enhance care for veterans with projects like this, and guaranteeing that they have the support they need to succeed in their recovery.”

The following renovations were made to the facility as part of this project:

• Roughly 9,500 square feet of space was added to the building to accommodate 50 beds.
• Gut renovation of existing interior spaces.
• Addition of dormitory spaces, client lounge, quiet/reading room, outdoor basketball court, outdoor grilling/seating area, and ADA-compliant ramps and elevator.
• Addition of central heating and air conditioning systems, as well as fire suppression/sprinkler/alarm systems, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• EIFS, a smooth stucco finish, was applied to the building’s brick exterior to further enhance energy efficiency.
• The renovations made the building fully compliant to New York building codes, energy codes and ADA regulations.

The Ed Thompson Veterans Center is operated by Samaritan Daytop Village and is located at 130-15 89^th Road, Richmond Hill, NY.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, community residence, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website. Visit CombatAddiction.ny.gov to learn more about the warning signs of addiction, review information on how to get help, and access resources on how to facilitate conversations with loved ones and communities about addiction. For tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing alcohol or drug use, visit the State’s Talk2Prevent website.