Southampton's Workforce Housing Lottery Unfolds Thursday

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — The dearth of affordable housing on the East End has left scores of young people forced to leave home to find work, and seniors struggling to stay in the communities where they've spent their lives.

To that end, Southampton Town is offering a new workforce housing lottery, which takes place Thursday at Town Hall at 2 p.m.

More than 200 applicants threw their proverbial hats into the ring — and two lucky winners will have the chance to see their dream of affordable home ownership realized.

Letters were sent to 252 applicants to notify them that they have qualified for the lottery for two newly constructed three bedroom, two bath homes in Southampton, town officials said.

Qualified first time homebuyers were required to submit applications to the Long Island Housing Partnership by Feb. 28. The homes, located on Moses Lane and Magee Street will sell for $332,400. The Town of Southampton donated the land, and the homes were constructed under the direction of the Southampton Business Alliance Housing Initiative Corporation and the Southampton Business Alliance, town officials said.

In addition, qualified buyers had to meet 2017 to 2018 income levels established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Those guidelines are as follows:

Income limitations apply according to the size of household and may not exceed:

Household Size-Maximum Income

1 $93,050

2 $106,350

3 $119,650

4 $132,950

5 $143,600

6 $154,250

7 $164,850

8 $175,500

Applications were submitted with a non-refundable $50 application fee.

Applicants meeting the requirements are now entered into a lottery and will then be required to complete a formal application for income and employment and credit verification. Applicants must also attend mortgage counseling with the Long Island Housing Partnership, a certified HUD counseling agency, and qualify to obtain a mortgage, town officials said.

Only those who have not owned a home, property or shares of a home or property during the past three years were eligible for the program.

If you have questions about the lottery, call the Long Island Housing Partnership at (631) 435-4710 or the Town of Southampton Housing Office at (631) 702-1731.

Patch file photo.