Affordable homes will be waiting for four local veterans upon their return from the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Long Island Home Builders Care, the charitable arm of the Long Island Builders Institute, a trade group, will be building the houses on donated land using reduce-priced materials and labor.

Any veteran originally from Suffolk County can apply to purchase the home. No veterans have been chosen yet.
“We’ve been working on this over the year to do something for the community and give back,” said Lois Fricke, who serves as director of development for the charity arm.

Two lots of land were donated by the Brookhaven Town, one in East Patchogue and one in Ronkonkoma. LIBI member Mark Baisch, also the president of Landmark Properties — a Rocky Point-based housing development firm — donated the other two plots of land in East Patchogue and Sound Beach.

The first house to be completed will be a two story, three-bedroom high ranch in Sound Beach, which may be customized to any needs of the returning veteran and can be handicap-accessible, Ms. Fricke said. Each house will cost about $100,000, a price well under market value. LIHBC hopes to have all homes built in 2011, she said.

LIHBC has not yet selected veterans for the homes, and are asking for as many applicants as possible. The VFW is Rocky Point is creating an election committee which will screen applicants and choose all four winners.

Veterans interested in applying to purchase a home through the program should write to Lois Fricke, Long Island Home Builders Care, 1757-8 Veterans Memorial Highway, Islandia, NY, 11749.

Include information on tour of duty and present status.

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