They don't want to go, but many young professionals complain it's too expensive to live on Long Island.The latest census figures show 120,000 young people have packed their bags and gone elsewhere since 2000. Experts argue the "brain drain" will have devastating effects.

"If we don't create an opportunity where people can live here, businesses will leave as they are leaving now for eastern Pennsylvania," said Dowling College professor Martin Cantor.

Natalie Gaebelein, 24, and her friends have started the Stay on Long Island group. "My American dream is living in a basement apartment paying $1,000 a month in rent," Gaebelein said of her predicament.

The organization is drawing support. Suffolk lawmaker Ricardo Montano is proposing workforce housing be mandatory in all open space acquisitions. Developer Gerald Wolkoff wants to build 2,000 affordable housing units in Brentwood.

A business group called the Long Island Association estimates Nassau and Suffolk will need nearly 130,000 affordable housing units in the next 10 years to combat the problem.

For a Long Island college graduate talking about the lack of affordable housing and jobs, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.