Longtime Garden City resident Vic Devita and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset co-coordinated an interfaith prayer vigil in front of County Executive Tom Suozzi's office June 22 in hopes of persuading him and the Village of Garden City to include at least some affordable housing at the 25-acre 101 County Seat Drive site. The county executive, who was personally invited to attend, did not.

"Right here in our own backyard we have a tremendous problem," Devita said. "So many of our young people cannot stay any longer with us, they cannot afford to live where they would love to stay. They must pick up and move elsewhere to lands far less attractive and enjoyable than the land in which they were raised and loved. My own two children happen to fall into this category ... they fall into the category of people I would love to have near me but cannot afford to be here - not only in Garden City but anywhere on the island.

"I live in Garden City and I raised my children here. In many ways, it's an extraordinary community. People in Garden City care for their community and for each other. However, I feel the community would be even greater if it could allow itself to have much more diversity ... We are here to see what we can do before it is too late."

Senior Pastor James Adelmann of the Community Church of Garden City, former Garden City Mayor Jack McGowan (1989-1991), one of four deacons at St. Anne's Church in Garden City, among others, attended last Wednesday's vigil in which Devita, a former clergyperson himself, was one of six slated to guest speak. Willow, an interfaith, independent a cappella singing group, was also on hand to perform various numbers throughout the hour-and-a-half event.

For the many not fully aware of what Devita described as a "dire situation," he offered eye-opening statistics. Young adults leave Long Island at a rate five times greater than the national average. Businesses are not making their way to the island because entry-level workers cannot afford housing here. Job growth on Long Island was at 1.2 percent. Long Island has lost 20 percent of its young adults, ages 20-34, in the last decade. "Those are the facts - stark statistics," Devita said.

The group's first goal is to educate people and secondly, reach out to those in a position of power, namely Suozzi, because Devita believes they can bring about the win-win situation. "That's why we're assembled here, at the office of Tom Suozzi," Devita noted. "Mr. Suozzi is on record in favor of affordable housing. Unfortunately he doesn't believe affordable housing should be in certain areas. This is why we're here in Garden City. We have the opportunity right here in Garden City for affordable housing. Suozzi is going to tear down the [Social Services] Building; 25 acres will be available. Three hundred units can be built and not all of them have to be for affordable housing - just 10 percent would be fine to get us started."

After repeated attempts, Suozzi could not be reached for comment.

Affordable housing, or next generation housing, caters to those families of four earning up to 80 percent or less of the median income on Long Island, which is roughly $100,000. Income requirements change with the size of the family. "If you use the ratio the banks give you, you can afford to buy a house at two-and-a-half times your income. If you're making $80,000 a year that means you can afford to buy a house for $250,000 on Long Island. Good luck," Devita said.

Elaine Peters of Hicksville, a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, believes one should be able to live where they work, especially those in the service industries. Her husband, Jim, an educator himself, said he finds it disheartening that fellow educators can't afford to live in the town in which they teach.

Jean Judd, chair of the Affordable Housing Committee at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, said the movement began with the idea of learning more about the problem. "We've been hearing how unsustainable Long Island is for the future if we don't have affordable housing," Judd noted. "We linked up in coalition with some of the other very active groups. In Suffolk, we learned that Huntington was successful, after I think 10 years, in getting written into contracts of parcels of land that anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of the housing had to be priced at below market value. We're very concerned that when - not if - the housing bubble bursts, everybody who's been holding on to their houses - thinking that they're going to get a million, million-and-a-half for them - are going to suddenly find that they are not going to..."

Devita and his Garden City neighbors believe a solution is out there. "We have the solutions, no doubt about it. What is not in place is the willingness of all to look at the big picture and see how solving these problems will require intelligence, generosity and sacrifice that interestingly enough will accrue to the benefit of everyone," he said.

As of press time, the Life got word that Citibank of Long Island awarded the Long Island Housing Partnership a $50,000 Partnership for Progress Grant to offset predevelopment costs for 143 affordable homes slated for construction in the next few years.

"We are at the earliest stages of development," Peter Elkowitz, president of the Long Island Housing Partnership, said, adding, "We are meeting with community groups now who will have a lot of input in the design of the mostly townhouse-type developments."

In Nassau County the partnership is awaiting transfer of 13 sites from the Nassau County Legislature. Single-family homes are planned for 13 sites scattered around the county. There are another 10 homes planned for Inwood in the Town of Hempstead. Approximately 40 affordable homes are planned for the Town of Islip. These townhouses will be located in Bay Shore. Moreover, in the Village of Patchogue, approximately 80 mixed income homes are planned to revitalize the downtown area.

Half of these homes, according to Elkowitz, will sell at market rate while the other half will be priced at affordable levels. "This development will have the beautiful 'Georgetown' look with a mixture of brick, stone and siding façades," Elkowitz said.

The mission of the Long Island Housing Partnership is to provide increased housing opportunities throughout Long Island for those unable to afford decent and safe housing. This mission is accomplished through programs, leadership and public advocacy. For more information about the Long Island Housing Partnership, visit www.lihp.org.