220 Unit Residents Homeless by November!

Yet another HUD based community owner in Long Island, New York opts out of HUD funding. An apartment complex comprised of single parent families, elderly and handicapped left without a roof over their heads will happen in the VERY near future.

Ridgehaven Village is a beautiful community located in Ridge, New York. To drive through this complex, you would never know it was low income. Now that the owner has decided to opt out of HUD funding, the residents are in danger of losing thier housing with no where to go due to lack of affordable housing in Long Island, New York.

Although we are being offered vouchers, our housing will only be temporarily available to us if the owner so decides. We will be at his mercy as to whether or not we will be able to stay. Harvey Auerbach's (owner of Ridgehaven Village) letter of intent reads "Residents will be allowed to stay as long as the complex remains a rental site." This means if he decides to sell the units, we must leave or pay whatever price he comes up with. The conversion of the HUD community will take place on November 21, 2003. It is possible that at that time, the owner will give us that ultimatum.

We, the Ridgehaven Village Tenants Association, are trying to contact as many local politicians to help us persuade Mr. Auerbach to keep HUD funding for another 20 years. He had been offered the "Mark up to Market" program HUD offers which will allow him the going rent for these apartments. We are guessing he has his sights set for even more income than that was offered.