At a time when many homebuyers are struggling to qualify for mortgages, a record 20 North Shore-LIJ employees have been approved this year to receive first-time homeowner grants through the health system’s Employee Assisted Housing Program, which is offered in cooperation with the Long Island Housing Partnership.

One of the grant recipients and satisfied new homeowner is Jennifer Reyes-Bueno, a nurse at LIJ Medical Center’s Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit. “We are so appreciative about what happened to us,” she said. “It changed our lives. It was a gift when we needed it most.”

With the devastating economic crisis, the housing market downturn and the high cost of housing, many people desperately looking for homes are struggling to find sufficient financing, particularly since the tight credit market is requiring home buyers to come up with larger down-payments. Like many others who wish to live and work on pricey Long Island, Ms. Reyes-Bueno said she wanted to keep working at LIJ and stay on Long Island, where her extended family still resides. For over a year, she and her husband had been looking for a new home within commuting distance of the hospital, and also situated in a good school district for her children.

“We were very disheartened every time we looked at houses, finding very little in our price range or something that wasn’t in a desirable school district,” she recalled. After learning about North Shore-LIJ’s Employee Housing Assistance Program and the Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP, she filled out and submitted an application for financial assistance. Less than two weeks later, Ms. Reyes-Bueno received a letter of congratulations from LIHP, informing her that she had met all of the qualifications. LIHP also provided her with mortgage counseling, and two weeks later, she and her husband were congratulated once again and told how much they would be receiving. “We found a great house in Nassau County in a wonderful school district, and we’ve added an adorable puppy to our family,” she said.

Ms. Reyes-Bueno and the other 19 North Shore-LIJ employee recipients found that the housing assistance grant was just the beginning, as they qualified for further grants from Nassau and Suffolk counties, the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation and New York State HELP, which offers up to three times the initial $10,000 employee contribution, depending upon the applicant’s financial situation. It is possible to receive up to $100,000 grant funding if an applicant meets the requirements.

For more information, please call Human Resources at (516)734-7000. Press #1 for the benefits department, then leave your name and phone number.

Media Inquiries ONLY (Not for Employees): Elaine Wohl 516-465-2600