What are they thinking in Smithtown? (Brookhaven, Islip: affordable houses, income, living)

[TomMoser]

Originally Posted by Glad2BHere

You have my rolling on the floor with this one.


Tom, I DO believe in helping those less fortunate. But I also believe in those less fortunate helping themselves. And to me that starts with using birth control, or abstaining from primal urges.

So if you told me she had a kid or two, I might have sympathy. But 3 or 4, and I reach my breaking point.

Just being honest.

Would it change your point of view if I said that she is a white mother of four whose husband was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq? It is very interesting to see the conclusions that people jump to when they do not know all the details.

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by TomMoser

I just want to bring some humanity to this discussion and tell you about a Section 8 recipient who I recently found housing for here in Huntington. She is a single mother of four children. She worked for a company in the Bronx, where she was on public assistance. Her job was transferred to this area, so she had to move. Through Huntington Housing Authority we were able to get her Section 8 benefits so that she could move and keep her job. Luckily, Huntington does not administer their program the way that Smithtown does. She is a very nice hard working woman and I think that the program operated exactly the way it was intended to.

Another board that I read has had numerous Huntington residents complain about HUD/Section 8 housing and about one landlord, in particular, DP, who is rather unscrupulous in the way he handles things. Many of the residents who post on that board feel he is partially to blame for the decline in the Huntington/Huntington Station area.

Granted, not all Section 8 people are bad and not all non-Section 8 people are good, but where do you see the decline: in areas primarily occupied by homeowners, or within those where there is a growing number of non-owner occupied/absentee landlord rentals?

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by TomMoser

I'm sorry if it offends you that I believe in being charitalbe to hardworking people who are trying to get by in this world. How is someone like that supposed to get along if everyone decided that she is not welcome? Please have a very Merry Christmas.

I am asking this because I don't know the answer.

Did you get her placed for free or are realtors reimbursed for placing Section 8 renters?

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by nancy thereader

Look across the street from Trader Joes. Those houses on Alexander Ave are mostly rentals.

Is that where that poor grandmother was killed by one of her grandson's druggie friends? Not black, btw.....actually long-time Long Islanders.

Alexander Ave starts at 347 and runs south across 25 and ends at Old Nicolls Rd. Family members owned a home across from the mall (actually owned it for years before there was even the thought of the mall) but I believe the crime occurred on Alexander south of 25.

[Glad2BHere]

Originally Posted by OhBeeHave

I believe the crime occurred on Alexander south of 25.

I believe that was TOS, in Nesconset. It was drug related and the grandson was raised by the grandmother. She tried to do right by him b/c his parents did not...and she lost her life for it. Supposeldy neighbors said people (drug related) were always coming and going from that house....

[Glad2BHere]

Originally Posted by OhBeeHave

Granted, not all Section 8 people are bad and not all non-Section 8 people are good, but where do you see the decline: in areas primarily occupied by homeowners, or within those where there is a growing number of non-owner occupied/absentee landlord rentals?

I agree. Great point.

Too many rentals and transients is not a good thing for Smithtown or any town, period. Section 8 or not.

[TomMoser]

Originally Posted by OhBeeHave

I am asking this because I don't know the answer.

Did you get her placed for free or are realtors reimbursed for placing Section 8 renters?

Section 8 will not pay the agency fee. If the tenant is qualified, the fee will be paid by Suffolk County Department of Social Services (DSS).

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by TomMoser

Section 8 will not pay the agency fee. If the tenant is qualified, the fee will be paid by Suffolk County Department of Social Services (DSS).

Thank you for answering that. I like to have some idea as to how things work -- learning is a good thing Basically, you could work with a Section 8 tenant, and your time(fee) would not be reimbursed, if I understand correctly.

Unfortunately, it leads to another question:
What determines whether a tenant is qualified to have the fee paid by DSS?

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by Glad2BHere

I believe that was TOS, in Nesconset. It was drug related and the grandson was raised by the grandmother. She tried to do right by him b/c his parents did not...and she lost her life for it. Supposeldy neighbors said people (drug related) were always coming and going from that house....

All of Alexander Ave is TOS and you're right, the crime occurred in Nesconset, which is the portion of Alexander south of Route 25. My family member's home was on the LG side -- N of 25.

[TomMoser]

Originally Posted by OhBeeHave

Thank you for answering that. I like to have some idea as to how things work -- learning is a good thing Basically, you could work with a Section 8 tenant, and your time(fee) would not be reimbursed, if I understand correctly.

Unfortunately, it leads to another question:
What determines whether a tenant is qualified to have the fee paid by DSS?

It has to do with their income level and if they are working. By the way, there are other programs that will also help pay for rent. There is a very good program called SHARP run by DSS, which is designed to get people on their feet who have a temporary bad situation. I have also worked with private agencies such as Center for Urban Community Services (they placed a brain-injured individual), and Options for Community Living (domestic abuse). Although doing these kinds of rentals are difficult, I find it a rewarding diversion from selling McMansions.