Dear Supervisor Smyth and Huntington Town Board Members,

We are writing to you to urge you to support the basement apartment legislation. Now, more than ever, in the midst of a major housing crisis, homeowners deserve an opportunity to mitigate the costs of home ownership by renting out their basement (LEGALLY) as a source of income.

For homeowners, an accessory apartment offers a plethora of benefits, such as a secondary source of income, a living space for a close friend or family member, a space for a caregiver to live close at hand, and so much more. As is evidenced by the New York State Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP) data, approximately 10.75% of homeowners are delinquent on their mortgages, a number that has doubled from the pre-pandemic rates. In addition, 19.8% of homeowners of color are delinquent, compared to only 6.6% of white homeowners. For these families struggling to afford their mortgages, an accessory apartment serves as a lasting alternative to homelessness and housing insecurity, as they can earn income from renting a portion of their homes. Seniors on fixed incomes also reap similar benefits. Each and every property owner should have the same right to use and improve their properties however they see fit. We need to ensure they have the necessary resources to prevent foreclosures.

A basement apartment can help make the goal of homeownership attainable for our young people burdened with student loan debt and non-livable wages so they can stay on LI. Wouldn’t you want your adult children and grandchildren to live near you? Simultaneously, legal basement apartments would be a great opportunity for teachers, firefighters, EMT workers, police officers, health care workers, seniors on fixed income, and young people who grew up in our Town to be able to stay and contribute to our economy, while also providing crucial services to our Township.

If passed, this legislation would allow the Town of Huntington to permit a basement accessory apartment only when there is an owner-occupant in the primary residence. Legalizing basement accessory apartments could add much needed housing to the housing stock without needing major new construction or infrastructure. The need for affordable and rental housing has only been exacerbated in the wake of COVID, the economic downturn, and rising inflation. Our vulnerable populations such as disabled individuals, senior citizens, veterans, single parents, young adults, and low to moderate-income residents, including our essential workers who are the backbone of our economy, are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis. They are in desperate need of safe, decent, and affordable housing.

Many residents live in unsafe, illegal apartments that are not up to code. We must ensure we create legal apartments that are safe for the entire community! This legislation is crucial to ensure basement apartments are legal and up to code to avoid accidents.

We encourage you to pass this legislation and do what’s right to make our community safer, more affordable and more inclusive for all residents in the Town of Huntington!