The garage of an abandoned Huntington Station, N.Y., home sits in ruin among high weeds in this June 2010 photo. Its former resident, Jose Cruz, moved out after unexpected costs exceed his ability to make monthly mortgage payments. Photo: Todd Baker

TOWN OF HUNTINGTON, N.Y. – Abandoned and unsafe homes are popping up like weeds in this Suffolk County suburb as the number of U.S. foreclosures continues to rise, according to a report released June 23 by the Department of the Treasury.

Town officials must contend with this trend as many deserted homes become a local public safety issue. As of June 30 a total of 882 homes in the county sat vacant as a result of foreclosure, according to RealtyTrac, an online real estate data company. Approximately 7 percent of those, or 62 homes, were in Huntington.

“An insecure home is an invite for kids to hang out and they usually do damage,” said Bruce Richard, director of the town’s Department of Public Safety. “Swimming pools that have stagnant water in them generate mosquitoes, which is a big concern with West Nile. We have tall grass that gives a hiding place for rats and raccoons and insects.”

State lawmakers passed legislation in 2009 requiring lenders to maintain foreclosed properties until “ownership is transferred.” When this doesn’t happen, or when a property is neglected by the owner, the town often gets involved.

It’s a lengthy process in which public safety officers inspect properties and then forward code violations to the town board for resolution. Once approved, the town’s Department of General Services either performs the work or subcontracts it to local companies.

If neglect persists at a property and further work is needed, the entire process – from inspection to board approval – must take place again. It’s a frustrating battle for neighbors and public safety officials.

In 2003, Jose Cruz, 35, purchased what he thought would be an affordable home for his family in Huntington Station, an unincorporated area in the Town of Huntington. Cruz soon discovered hidden decay in the home. His unexpected repair and heating costs made paying the mortgage impossible. He moved out in 2007 and arranged a short sale with the bank, in which the property would be sold for less than it’s worth.

With 4-foot-tall weeds surrounding his former home and its rear garage showing the most visible ravages of neglect, neighbors made repeated calls to the town’s public safety department. Frances Hanlon lives next door and has filed numerous complaints. Her disdain for the condition of the Cruz home is palpable. “We complain all the time. In fact we’re thinking of complaining again,” she grumbled.

With no one to maintain the Cruz property, the town performed two cleanups and another was ordered on June 15. When asked for a reaction to his neighbors’ complaints, Cruz shrugged off responsibility. “It’s the bank’s problem now,” he said.

Property management experts say that banks often don’t know when a tenant has moved. “With so many foreclosures on the market, they really can’t keep a handle on it,” said Paul Ryan, 47, of Huntington, who is frequently hired for the town’s cleanup work.

“You definitely have an emotional feeling about what these people might have gone through to lose their house,” said Joseph Rose, 44, a Huntington zoning inspector.

His boss takes that understanding a step further. Under Richard’s direction, the department works with families on town code compliance issues and tries to match them with agencies to assist their needs. “It’s the ones that just totally ignore the situation and adversely affect their neighbors that we really push on,” said Richard.

As of Aug. 2, the department dealt with 2,829 complaints for the year. In 2009 the total reached 4,154.  With foreclosures on the rise, Richard is sure the department will exceed that number.