In affordable housing

Who Will Do the Laundry? Fixing the Hamptons Housing Crisis

November 13, 2025 In affordable housing 4 Mins Read

Real Talk on Housing the Hamptons

Real Talk. Real People.

The Hamptons is beautiful, but beneath the sunsets and sailboats, the East End is struggling with a housing crisis that affects everyone. This isn’t about traffic or celebrity real estate. It’s about where the people who keep this community alive can afford to live. Teachers, doctors, nurses, hospitality staff, and tradespeople are driving two hours each way just to make the Hamptons work. That is not sustainable, and it is not fair.

The Real Talk: You Can’t Build a Community Without People

If you live or work anywhere from Westhampton to Montauk, you can see the imbalance. Homes worth millions sit empty most of the year while workers struggle to find a one-bedroom apartment they can afford. A healthy community needs all kinds of people, not just those who can afford luxury real estate. The Hamptons runs on real people with real jobs, and we need real solutions to keep them here.

How Did We Get Here?

Rents across the East End have soared, with $3,000 to $6,000 a month now considered normal. The average worker earns $50,000 to $70,000 a year, which makes those rents impossible. Add in bridge closures, construction, and traffic, and workers spend more time commuting than being home with their families. We can and must do better.

The Good News: We Can Fix This Together

Here’s how we start making housing work for everyone on the East End.

Build smarter, not just bigger. Support mixed-income developments and creative reuse projects. Convert unused buildings, vacant motels, or municipal spaces into year-round workforce housing. This keeps local character and creates attainable homes faster.
Empower local housing authorities like TSHA. The Town of Southampton Housing Authority is showing that real progress is possible with projects like Watermill Crossing and Sandy Hollow Cove. Let’s expand those models across every East End town with public-private partnerships.
Incentivize landlords to accept housing vouchers. Create tax incentives and grants for property owners who rent to potential tenants using HUD or Section 8 vouchers. This opens doors for working families and helps stabilize neighborhoods with reliable, long-term residents.
Encourage homeowners to build accessory dwellings. Offer financial assistance, reduced permit fees, or tax rebates to homeowners who create small rental units on their property for essential workers such as teachers, doctors, nurses, hospitality, retail, and trade employees. These accessory dwellings help fill the desperate housing gap while giving homeowners a steady income stream.
Incentivize year-round rentals. Offer property tax credits or local grants for landlords who rent year-round instead of seasonally. This builds stability for tenants and ensures that local businesses can count on a consistent workforce.
Improve transportation and access. Reliable, year-round public transit and carpool programs can reduce commute times, cut costs, and improve quality of life for workers traveling from outside towns.
Change the narrative. Affordable housing does not lower property values. It raises community values by keeping neighborhoods diverse, strong, and thriving.

It’s Time to Stop Pretending and Start Partnering

Everyone says they support affordable housing until it is time to approve a project near them. Real talk: that has to change. The East End needs collaboration between towns, nonprofits, builders, and residents to turn words into action. When we all work together, we can create housing that reflects our values and supports the people who make this community work.

Imagine This

Imagine a Hamptons where teachers live near their schools, nurses have apartments close to the hospitals where they work, and restaurant staff can afford a place nearby instead of sleeping in their cars. Imagine seniors being able to downsize locally and young professionals buying their first home without leaving the area. That is not a dream. It is entirely possible if we start treating housing as a community priority, not a luxury commodity.

So, Who Will Do the Laundry?

We all will, together. Because this is not about charity. It is about community. When people can live where they work, they invest, they participate, and they stay. That is how you keep a community alive. The Hamptons does not have to lose its heart to wealth. It just needs to remember its people.

Real Talk. Real People. Real Solutions. The East End can do this if we choose to.

Ways to Take Action

Support local workforce housing projects from TSHA, CDC of Long Island, and other organizations.
Attend zoning and planning meetings and make your voice heard.
Encourage your town board to fund incentives for landlords who accept vouchers and homeowners who build accessory dwellings.
Volunteer or donate to Sag Harbor Food Pantry or Sag Harbor Helpers.

If you love the Hamptons, fight for the people who make it home. Real talk, real people

Southampton and East End Housing Crisis: Why Rents Are Out of Reach

September 2, 2025 In affordable housing 2 Mins Read

Southampton & East End Housing Crisis: Why Rents Are Out of Reach

Affordable housing has become one of the most urgent issues in Southampton, the East End, and New York City. A new report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition confirms a startling reality: there isn’t a single state—or county—where a full-time minimum wage job can cover the cost of a modest two-bedroom apartment.

What This Means for Southampton

In Southampton Town, local workers—teachers, nurses, firefighters, restaurant staff—can’t afford to live where they work. Rising demand for vacation rentals has pushed year-round residents out, forcing many to commute long distances or leave the East End entirely.

The East End Rent Crisis

Across the Hamptons and the East End, modest rentals are disappearing. Apartments that once housed families year-round are now marketed as summer homes at triple the price. Even a one-bedroom apartment is out of reach for many hardworking locals.

The NYC Housing Wage Gap

The problem is just as severe in New York City, where the average rent is now above $3,500. The median renter wage falls far below what’s needed, leaving millions of New Yorkers severely rent-burdened—spending more than half their income on housing alone.

Why It Matters

Affordable housing isn’t a luxury—it’s the foundation of community life. Without it, schools struggle to keep staff, small businesses can’t find employees, and younger generations are forced to move away. Projects like those led by the Town of Southampton Housing Authority are making a difference, but the need continues to grow.

Real Talk, Real People

No one should have to work 116 hours a week just to afford a modest home. If we want Southampton, the East End, and New York City to remain thriving communities, we need bold action—higher wages, smarter zoning, and more affordable housing.

📖 Read the full Out of Reach 2025 report: NLIHC.org/oor

👉 Real Talk, Real People: What’s your housing story here on the East End or in NYC? Join the conversation on my social media. Instagram and Facebook @Hamptonsmp

Affordable Housing: Why It’s Everyone’s Problem

April 11, 2025 In affordable housing 3 Mins Read

Affordable housing is often framed as an issue that primarily affects low-income individuals and families. However, the reality is that the lack of affordable housing impacts entire communities, economies, and even those who may not think they are directly affected. From rising homelessness to workforce shortages and increased taxpayer burdens, housing affordability is an issue that extends beyond just those struggling to pay rent.

A Crisis That Affects All Income Levels

Housing costs are rising across the country, outpacing wage growth and making it increasingly difficult for people at all income levels to find suitable housing. This isn’t just a problem for the lowest-income households—middle-class families are also feeling the squeeze. When workers such as teachers, nurses, and first responders cannot afford to live in the communities they serve, it creates significant problems for the local economy and social stability.

Workforce and Economic Impact

When housing costs are too high, workers have to move farther away from their jobs, leading to longer commutes and reduced productivity. Businesses also struggle to attract and retain employees, which stunts economic growth. In industries like healthcare, education, and retail—where wages are often modest but the services are essential—a lack of affordable housing means chronic understaffing, increased employee turnover, and ultimately, lower quality of services for everyone.

The Burden on Public Services

A lack of affordable housing contributes to rising homelessness, which in turn puts a greater strain on public services. Cities are forced to spend more on shelters, emergency healthcare, and law enforcement to manage the growing number of people who cannot afford stable housing. Taxpayers ultimately bear the cost of these services, even if they themselves are securely housed. Investing in affordable housing is often a more cost-effective solution than dealing with the consequences of housing instability.

Neighborhood Stability and Crime Rates

When people cannot afford stable housing, it leads to higher rates of eviction, foreclosures, and frequent relocations, all of which disrupt communities. High turnover rates can lead to neglected properties, lower property values, and increased crime. Stable housing is directly linked to better educational outcomes for children, reduced crime rates, and overall stronger, healthier communities.

What Can Be Done?

Addressing the affordable housing crisis requires a combination of policy changes, private sector involvement, and community engagement. Some possible solutions include:

• Zoning reforms to allow for more diverse housing options, such as duplexes and accessory dwelling units.

• Incentives for developers to build affordable housing through tax credits and subsidies.

• Expanding rental assistance programs to help lower-income families stay housed.

• Employer-sponsored housing programs that provide workers with housing assistance.

A Shared Responsibility

The affordable housing crisis is not just a problem for those struggling to pay rent—it’s a community-wide issue that affects businesses, public services, and the overall economy. Addressing this challenge requires collective action, smart policies, and a recognition that when housing is unaffordable, everyone pays the price. By working together to create more housing opportunities, we can build stronger, more resilient communities that benefit everyone. The Town of Southampton Housing Authority and Georgica Ventures are a perfect example of collaborating to create affordable Housing that is beautiful and well maintained.