New York affordable housing fight ends with $98m community and 145 homes
After more than four decades of hurdles, a housing initiative from Long Island, initiated in 1978, has finally come to fruition with 145 affordable homes at Matinecock Court. This $98 million project overcame extensive legal and political challenges since its inception, which is linked to a pivotal Fair Housing Act case that reached the Supreme Court.
The story of Matinecock Court began in 1978 when Housing Help Inc. sought to establish a subsidized low-income housing project in the Town of Huntington, Suffolk County. With the assistance of the Suffolk Community Development Corporation, they identified 18 potential sites in Huntington. However, the development required multifamily zoning, which the town's existing zoning rules did not permit.
This led to a legal battle as Housing Help and the Huntington Branch of the NAACP challenged Huntington's restrictions on multifamily housing, ultimately becoming a landmark Fair Housing Act case. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court in 1988, affirming the plaintiffs' claims and paving the way for the development of Matinecock Court.
After decades of legal and political obstacles, the nearly $98 million affordable housing development finally became a reality in 2026. Matinecock Court now includes 145 limited-equity cooperative homes, with units designed for veterans, people with disabilities, and those with mobility or sensory disabilities. The community offers a variety of unit sizes and is located near public transportation, schools, shopping, and parks.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
