Lucky Winners Picked For Long Island Affordable Housing Lottery

CORAM, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – There were dozens of excited Long Islanders in the town of Brookhaven Thursday. Many jumped for joy when they heard their names announces as the winners of an affordable apartment lottery.

TV 10/55's Long Island Bureau Chief Richard Rose said they'll soon be moving into their new homes.

Single mom Kim Jackson hugged everyone in sight after hearing she was one of the winners. She's been crammed into a Massapequa apartment with her two daughters, mother and sister. Soon, the caregiver for the elderly will be moving into one of the apartments being subsidized through tax credits to the developer.

"It's a long-term goal to be happy in a nice neighborhood and we can all get along and live prosperous in an affordable home on Long Island," Jackson said.

Inside a barrel were the names of more than a thousand people who applied for the housing.

The housing is being built on the site of a former movie theater that had become a blighted section of Coram, Rose reported. However, there is only room for 176 renters.

Marie D'Arcelangelo is among the fortunate. She was pinching herself after her name was called.

"We're crammed in a three-bedroom apartment. I'm a single mom with four kids," she said. "I'm very delighted. I've never won anything. My children will be so excited."

By a twist of fate, everyone seated at one particular table heard their names called.

But Jacqueline Wiggins wasn't in the room, she was at home.

"My girlfriend called me and said, 'Jackie, they just called your name,' and I came right down," Wiggins said.

Wiggins said she'll move in with her disabled brother.

Meanwhile, work goes on around the clock at the Wincoram Commons. The complex will have one, two and three-bedrooms with stores and businesses on the first floor.

The first lucky 98 lottery winners will be able to move into the completed homes by summer, with the remaining 78 moving in next year.

Rentals will run from $929 a month for a one-bedroom apartment to nearly $1,800 for a three-bedroom.