Southampton - I recently had the opportunity to meet with Richard Blowes and Ann Gajowski, Director and Assistant Director respectively of the Town of Southampton Housing Authority.

Richard has had a long and distinguished career in public service. Ann is an accountant by training and successfully completed a real estate licensing course that I taught at Southampton College. We met at the Hampton Bays Apartments, located on Springville Road in Hampton Bays.

The first question I posed to Richard and Ann, is what is The Hampton Bays Apartments other than a very nice looking, well maintained property?

Their response: "It's a 37 unit residential development for seniors 62 and older as well as for those who are handicapped and who qualify for a housing choice voucher under the HUD Section 8 Program. The units were constructed and opened for occupancy in 1983 as a privately owned and managed senior citizen development. It is now owned and soon to be managed by the Housing Authority. The property will also serve as the offices for the Authority."

Richard: "I would like to point out, John, that we were the first Housing Authority on Long Island that was allowed to administer the voucher program. We soon expect to be designated the Public Housing Authority for the entire voucher program in the Township.:

How many vouchers are currently available, I asked.

Their answer: "We currently have 321 available, of which 265 have been issued, seven to senior citizens, 244 to qualified residents of the Town, and 21 to qualified recipients who live outside the Town of Southampton."

Would you please explain the 21 recipients who live outside the Town?

Richard: "Yes. Since this is a federally-funded program, we may not restrict eligibility to those who will live within the Town."

What about the issue of "work-force" housing for which almost everyone agrees there is a need. Is the Authority involved in anything of that nature?

Richard: "Yes. The Authority, in partnership with the Long Island Housing Partnership, has contracted with Manzi Homes, Inc, to build nine "affordable" green houses, seven in Flanders, and two in East Quogue, to be sold to qualified buyers. We are imposing covenants and restrictions on the properties which will serve to keep them "affordable." We are also structuring our criteria for eligibility to give priority to people who live and work in the area, always mindful of our obligation to comply with Federal, State, and Local Fair Housing Laws."

When do you expect that these homes will be available, Richard?

"We expect to break ground in July of this year. We are looking for qualified buyers before we start to build the homes. We want to make sure they can get a mortgage and also give them choices in colors and other amenities, always with an eye to keeping them affordable of course."

What are some of the other efforts that the Authority is engaged in to provide affordable housing?

Richard: "We have acquired or in the process of acquiring eight properties in Flanders under Suffolk County's 72-H Program which will be part of our "affordable housing" program. These are properties that have gone into foreclosure for non-payment of property taxes. We also make funds available out of our Community Development Block Grants for home improvements."

By home improvements, Richard I assume you mean capital improvements with respect to health and safety?

"Yes, that's correct."

Ann: "We just had a situation with a woman who is a senior citizen living in Riverside. She contacted us because she didn't have running water - couldn't shower, cook, or flush a toilet. Richard sent in a plumbing contractor, and needless to say, Richard is now a 'real hero' to this lady."

That's a really nice story Ann. Thank you.

Ann: "I want to mention that we are working with architect William Chaleff, who is trying to design energy efficient buildings at affordable prices in our Green Houses. We also have two volunteers who are just wonderful, Vincent Taldone and Dawn Tuttle. 'Youth Build USA' is another wonderful organization that we will be working with."

How many paid employees do you have, Ann?

"Including myself and Richard, we have 5.5."

It sounds like a lot of work for 5.5 people and a couple of volunteers.

Richard: "I should point out, John, that the Housing Authority is funded $125,000 a year for four years; then we will have to be self-sufficient. When we look at the economies of scale that we have achieved, we feel we are very cost-effective for the Town of Southampton in taking over many of their functions as a Public Housing Authority. Another important consideration is that the Town may not own rental units, but we as a Public Housing Authority may."

Ann. Richard. I want to thank you both for the generous amount of time you spent with me. I wish you and your colleagues the very best of luck.