2 Families See Elusive Affordable Housing Dream Come True

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Southampton Town officials cut the ribbons on two homes that are part of the "Tuckahoe Woods" project this week — helping two new families to realize their dreams of affordable home ownership at a time when the lack of workforce housing has reached a critical point on the East End.

Members of the Southampton Town Board and the Southampton Business Alliance joined with the new owners of the residences, located at 409 Moses Lane and 296 Magee Street, for the big event.

The two homes, plus 15 units at Southampton Point, will bring 17 units of workforce housing for sale in the Town of Southampton this year, town officials said, adding that soon, there will also be 66 workforce rentals available when Speonk and Sandy Hollow are completed.

“We know there is a tremendous need for more workforce housing and with the help of the Southampton Business Alliance Housing Initiative and the Long Island Housing partnership we hope to help those looking for an affordable home within their communities,” said Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman.

The new owners of one of the homes at Tuckahoe Woods, Stacey DiStefano and James White, Jr. had been renting a home for eight years near Hampton Bays and could not afford to purchase their own home.

To their joy and surprise, they said, they were chosen in the Southampton lottery and just moved in with their two children, ages 7 and 2 and-a-half years old.

“We are truly blessed for this opportunity," DiStefano said. "We wanted to stay out here near our families. We are very thankful to be given this opportunity to buy this new home.”

The dream was realized through the vision of the Southampton Business Alliance Housing Initiative Corporation; the homes were sold for $332,400 to the qualified applicants chosen in a Southampton housing lottery conducted last year by the Long Island Housing Partnership.

Southampton Town donated the land, town officials said.

Southampton Town kicked off the new workforce housing lottery in Feb., 2018, and qualified first time homebuyers were encouraged to enter, the town said.

Qualified buyers had to adhere to income limitation guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Applicants meeting requirements were then entered into a lottery, held in March, 2018, and were required to complete a formal application for income and employment and credit information.

Applicants also were required to attend mortgage counseling with the Long Island Housing Partnership, a certified HUD counseling agency, and qualify to obtain a mortgage, officials said.