Previously Published in The Messenger
By Matt Meduri
A bill to bolster housing options in Suffolk has just passed the Suffolk County Legislature unanimously.
Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue) sponsored a bill to set aside affordable housing units for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, pursuant to the County’s affordable housing program.
I.R. 1400 is co-sponsored by Legislators Rebecca Sanin (D-Huntington Station), Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon), Chad Lennon (C-Rocky Point), and Catherine Stark (R-Riverhead).
Legislative intent for the bill finds that while some existing County programs have been instituted to help alleviate the affordable housing crisis, there should be some priorities. Specifically, County housing programs should, in the view of the Legislature, assist the “men and women who put themselves on the line every single day by serving as volunteer firefighters and/or in the volunteer emergency medical services,” reads the bill.
“This Legislature also finds that these volunteers not only give of themselves to provide essential services that protect lives and property, but they truly serve as a source of inspiration to people of all ages and backgrounds; thus they are especially deserving of our attention,” continues the bill.
The main point of focus on the bill is to ensure that members of certain ambulance and fire companies can find affordable housing within their respective service districts. The intent is to keep service members close to their districts, while also ensuring they’re not forced to look elsewhere for pricing or availability.
This bill, if signed by County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches), would amend Article XXXVI of the Suffolk County Administrative Code to require that “affordable housing projects that receive County assistance include set-aside units for volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel who are already members of the fire or ambulance district in which the [housing] project is located.”
Workforce housing is currently mandated to be priced at 80% of area median income (AMI). The bill stipulates that properties must contain the following housing: at least five units designated for volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel, totaling no more than 10% of the development or five units, whichever is less. The units must be distributed throughout the property and maintained as such in perpetuity.
Qualifying personnel include members of the service district in which the housing project is located, and personnel must verify on an annual basis good standing with a written testimony to the Suffolk County Director of Affordable Housing by the District Secretary, or position equivalent, of the respective fire/ambulance district.
Furthermore, the County Attorney issues an opinion letter based on the aforementioned report that the housing project would be in compliance with the Fair Housing Act.