Affordable Housing Hard to Find For Syosset's Young Adults

Whether it be the lack of jobs, high living costs, or just the , a large percentage of Long Island’s college graduates are leaving to search for a better situation.

Experts have attributed this loss of youth to a number of issues, but say that affordable housing is at the top of the list.

Ian Magerkurth, 23, lives in a basement apartment in Syosset and commutes to Jericho were he works at a job where he said he makes the typical salary of someone just starting out. He pays $1,000 a month for his apartment, utilities included.

“There weren’t many options when I was looking for places – at the time I got the job I was living out east with my family,” Magerkurth explained. "Then I got the job and needed a place on short notice.”

Magerkurth is trying to find a better living situation, one that would allow him to save more money and allow him to get around easier.  

“It’s just hard living here, the cost of living is so high,” said Magerkurth. “I’ve been exploring moving to Queens - I could go down the stairs and walk to get a coffee.”

Related: Is Syosset 'Cool Enough' For Young Adults?

As for starting a 401K with his job, Magerkurth has yet to have the chance to do so because he said he “has to take care of some bills first.”

Jules Strachman, 25, works in Jericho and was able to find a house in Plainview that he shares with two recent Hofstra graduates. He said he pays $675 a month plus utilities.

“It’s affordable, but it’s still a little tough,” Strachman said. “I work in a start-up company and I don’t make much, but down the line I’d like to move out and maybe even buy a house somewhere." 

As for where he said he’d like to buy a house, Strachman said emphatically – “Nassau County.”

"It’s tough to save so it’s a challenge no matter where you live,” Strachman said. “But down the line, that’s definitely the goal.”

But how far down the line? Strachman said he wasn’t sure.

“In the next five years….I’ll probably be in the same position,” Strachman said.