Children’s laughter once filled the rooms of the Hamilton-Madison House Childcare Center located at the NYCHA Smith Houses, but ever since Hurricane Sandy, it’s been inhabitable.   

“We had to throw away all the furniture, all the supplies, the food was all damaged, literally everything had to be thrown away,” Hamilton-Madison House’s, Isabel Ching, said as she toured the space with News 12 New York. 

Almost 12 years later, she says there’s a beam of light in the center’s future - a $1.7 million investment to repair the center from Rep. Dan Goldman.  Goldman says the money will not only be used to repair the bones of the center, but to invest in the children who will grow there. 

“Studies show that when you invest in children ages zero to five and expose them to both socialization with other kids, as well as education and learning and structure and reading, the outcomes are exponentially better for those children who get those services than those who do not,” Goldman told News 12 New York. 

Hamilton-Madison House will receive the money in about 60 days.