HUD, Islip PHA Celebrate Renters becoming Homeowners

Phil Nolan, Islip Town Supervisor cuts the ribbon while Adolfo Carrión and a host of local officials and new homeowners look on

Regional Administrator Adolfo Carrión joined Islip Public Housing Authority (PHA) Chairman Ronald F Devine, Jr., Town of Islip Supervisor Phil Nolan, Peter Elkowitz, President of the Long Island Housing Partnership, and other local officials to celebrate 18 families moving from renters to homeowners under a unique government program that allows conversion from rental public housing units for residents and other eligible applicants to homeownership.

Under Section 32 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, a public housing authority may sell all or a portion of a public housing development to eligible public or non-public housing residents under a plan approved by HUD. To assist the purchase, grants may be provided to eligible participants. After 10 years, the family owns the house outright, and may remain or sell the unit if they wish with no repayment.

Tudor Lane was a public housing complex in Bay Shore, and part of the Islip Public Housing Authority. It served as a perfect vehicle for the Islip PHA to implement the Section 32 program back in 2006. The plan converted nine two-family, public housing rental units, comprising 2, 3 and 4 bedroom units, into homeownership properties. Under the provisions of the plan, the units were first offered to Islip public housing residents, then, via lotteries, to current Section 8 program Family Self-Sufficiency program participants, Section 8 subsidy recipients, unsubsidized applicants and then to all applicants through public notice.

The Long Island Housing Partnership, a nonprofit, housing advocacy group, partnered with the Islip Public Housing Authority, to oversee the lottery selection process, mortgage eligibility, and counseling and program eligibility requirements. As part of the approved housing authority plan, eligible applicants are enrolled in the Section 8 Voucher Home Ownership program to assist them for a period of up to 10 years. Homeowners are required to purchase and utilize the residence as their primary domicile for ten years before being eligible to sell the unit and realize any potential sale proceeds.

Content Archived: December 2, 2013