Nonprofit organizations serving survivors of domestic violence on Long Island say the suspension of a federal grant program has jeopardized critical services for their clients, including those who have fled abusers. Nicholas Spangler reports in NEWSDAY that leaders of East Hampton-based The Retreat and Suffolk County-based Brighter Tomorrows said they had planned to renew grants for transitional housing through the federal Office on Violence Against Women. The office, part of the U.S. Department of Justice, removed grant opportunities earlier this month for fiscal year 2025, just as many area nonprofits were preparing to submit their applications. The office, also known by its acronym, OVW, was the source of $63 million in grants last year across New York State to victim service organizations, local governments and other recipients.

The Feb. 6 notice on its website read in entirety: "At this time, OVW has withdrawn notices of funding opportunities, and you should not finalize any applications started under them. Please continue to check back on the OVW website to stay up-to-date on current and future open funding opportunities."

Cate Carbonaro, executive director of The Retreat, said she and her colleagues received an email from OVW with similar language. They had already begun work on an application for a transitional housing grant through the office. Had it been successful, Carbonaro said, the grant would have provided $800,000, starting in October, to continue funding rental assistance on Long Island, where housing costs are high and rental apartments scarce.

"It’s housing money for victims of crimes," she said. "The way these people are eventually able to get out of these situations is by getting financial support that lets them become independent from their abuser. It’s temporary money to help them get back on their feet."

Carbonaro said she worried too about the status of a legal services grant through OVW that her organization uses to hire lawyers to represent its clients in family court.

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The Riverhead Town Board approved the creation of a seven-member Hispanic Development, Empowerment and Education Committee at their meeting on Feb. 4. Tara Smith reports in NEWSDAY that the volunteer board led by 45-year-old Alexander Escobar is tasked with making recommendations to “build a bridge” between local government and the growing Hispanic community to improve quality of life, according to the resolution.

About 18.7% of Riverhead’s 35,723 residents are Hispanic or Latino, according to the most recent U.S. Census data. State education data from last year shows 64% of students in Riverhead schools are Hispanic or Latino. Through the new committee, Escobar hopes to address systemic challenges for Hispanic entrepreneurs by providing mentorship, workforce development and networking opportunities.

He said Latinos are hardworking people who may be deterred by bureaucratic processes like navigating permits, licenses and insurance.

Riverhead Town officials applauded the formation of the committee, which they said would foster unity and allay fears some Hispanic residents may have about doing business at Town Hall.

The committee plans to meet monthly, and meetings will be open to the public, officials said.

Escobar assembled the group with town Councilman Ken Rothwell, who will serve as its liaison.

Rothwell hopes the committee will lead to more positive interactions at Riverhead Town Hall. One of the committee’s first priorities will be discussing ways to translate the town website and key town forms and documents into Spanish.

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Members of the Greater East Hampton Chamber of Commerce elected a board of directors for 2025 and new leadership at their general membership meeting, held at Clinton Academy in East Hampton last week.

Gavin Menu, the publisher of The Express News Group and the