Islip Town holds housing lottery for 15 houses

With a little bit of luck, 15 families may find a new home in Islip.

The town’s Community Development Agency held a housing lottery for 15 houses in the town on Feb. 11. Families were chosen for the lottery based on required income and credit guidelines, and will now have to prove to the CDA that their incomes can handle the required mortgage payments. The chosen applicants, all first-time homebuyers, will also have to successfully complete a homebuyer’s training class to ready themselves for the responsibilities of home ownership.

The houses are located in Bay Shore, Brentwood, Central Islip and Ronkonkoma, and 12 of them were once foreclosed properties in “deplorable condition,” according to the town. The CDA bought the homes from foreclosure listings and renovated the homes with funding from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“For many families this is their best chance at achieving the American dream of home ownership,” said Councilman John Cochrane in a release. “This is one of our finest traditions here in Islip. Every time we hold a housing lottery, we can guarantee that our neighborhoods will grow stronger.”

The town is accepting applications for the housing lottery program on an ongoing basis. Applicants must meet a certain income threshold dependent on family size, and must be American citizens or currently holding permanent resident status. For more information, contact the CDA at 631-665-1185.