The Children's Village - Jeremy Kohomban - Hans Schlange - Darquita Fletcher - William Krupman - Deborah Finley Children's Village forced to move illegal, unsafe group home from Yonkers Dobbs Ferry New York

Children's Village won't keep Yonkers apartments
By Ernie Garcia
The Journal News March 26, 2009

YONKERS - A controversial residential program on Valentine Lane that sought a city special-use permit is instead moving out.

"Of greatest concern to me is the safety and well being of these young adults," Children's Village President Jeremy Christopher Kohomban wrote in a letter Monday. "Given the current environment, 179 Valentine Lane cannot now be a home to all of them."

Kohomban addressed his letter to Councilwoman Sandy Annabi, D-2nd District, who has gotten many calls and e-mails from residents in her district opposed to the residential program's presence there. She said the area's high crime rate made the location unsuitable.

Children's Village this year had applied for the permit with the Planning Board to legitimize its operations in the apartment building.

Children's Village of Dobbs Ferry began renting apartments at 179 Valentine Lane in 2005. The Supported Housing Independent Living Program helps young adults "aging out" of the foster-care system at age 22 get used to living on their own. But Children's Village did not obtain proper permits to turn one apartment into an office.

Annabi said Children's Village has 18 months left on its lease of seven apartments at 179 Valentine Lane. "I'm not sure if they will remain for 18 months," she said.

Ernie Garcia

Yopat
Dobbs Ferry, New York
U.S.A.