Archstone families to get rent aid

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Archstone families to get rent aid

Newsday*

BY MATTHEW CHAYES | matthew.chayes@...

4:19 PM EST, December 12, 2007

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-liarch1213,0,5301312.story?

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Dozens of low-income families who pay cheaper rent at the mold-

ridden Archstone-Westbury luxury apartments will get money to help

pay rent when the families relocate, officials said.

Each family will receive the difference between the market-rent rate

of their apartment and what they're paying now, said Connie

Lassandro, Nassau County's director of housing and homeless services.

The money is a godsend for people like Bashar Aboud, a 38-year-old

father of five who claims the complex's mold has made his children

sick. He says he couldn't afford to move or live without the subsidy.

" This is crazy, " Aboud said. " I don't know what I'm doing, to be

honest. "

The money, which in many cases could total nearly $2,000 a month per

apartment, will be paid by Archstone-, the Englewood, Colo.-

based developer that owns the luxury complex.

Archstone- announced last month that it is evicting all its

residents because of " catastrophic " water damage in the complex's 21

buildings. The company said occupants need to leave by March and

that repairs could take a year.

The company promised the Town of Hempstead in 2002 to set aside 20

percent of the 400-unit luxury complex it completed in 2005 on the

old Roosevelt Raceway complex for low-income residents who would in

turn pay cheaper rent.

The new rent subsidy is to be delivered quarterly, directly to the

tenants, Lassandro said.

" Every three months they're going to get a check, " Lassandro said.

The county would charge Archstone- a fee to distribute the

money, Lassandro said.

Lassandro said the county would be receiving from the company a list

of the addresses where the low-income tenants would be moving. She

said residents can call her office at (516) 572-1900 with questions.

The money will come in addition to the relocation package the

company is also giving each renter, which includes free rent for the

final 30 days at Archstone and a onetime payment between $1,300 and

$1,900 to help with moving costs, to be paid when the tenant moves

out, said Archstone spokesman Pendery.

Archstone's low-income residents could make money from their

temporary eviction if they relocate to cheaper housing -- the amount

will be the same no matter how much the rent where the residents

choose to move.