Skyrocketing taxes and 11 percent unemployment are dubious distinctions for any city to be tagged with, much less overcome. Yet Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh is striving to bring the city of Newburgh back to life.
To date, Habitat has built 43 homes housing 85 adults and 165 children. Clean, energy-efficient and owned by working families, “It is a dream I never thought possible until we were accepted into Habitat”™s program in 2008,” construction worker Pedro Cruz said. Despite the recession, it hasn”™t stunted the giving power of its donors.
Two other families came to share their stories with 400 of the organization”™s supporters at a benefit breakfast Sept. 30 at Anthony”™s Pier 9, each telling how Habitat made home ownership ”“ and the pride that goes with it ”“ the turning point in their lives. “Habitat helped me change my vision about life. It renewed my hope,” Cruz said.
Supporters also had the opportunity to say goodbye to longtime Executive Director Deirdre Glenn and welcome her replacement, Cathy Collins, former executive director of Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in Rhinebeck. Prior to that, she was with the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill in Hyde Park.
“Cathy”™s got tremendous energy and is going to get the job done” Glenn said. Collins, a native of Arkansas, has worked in the nonprofit sector her entire career, all of it focused on making lives better. This is one job she is looking forward to.
“I”™m so charged by the energy and enthusiasm I saw in this room today,” said Collins when the last of the breakfast guests had gone. She”™s not daunted by the challenge of getting the 70,000-square-foot former National Guard Amory retrofitted and ready for community use. Its large gymnasium will be ready for the public by mid-November, she said.
“We had a national search for a new executive director,” said Dan Clarino, the chapter”™s president. “We received resumes from as far away as British Columbia. We were fortunate to find Cathy right here in Poughkeepsie. She brings a wealth of talent and experience in the nonprofit sector and will continue to lead this organization with the same enthusiasm and commitment Deirdre has given.”
“When I was in Arkansas, we had the same situation. We got that building rehabbed in record time with the focus on providing a safe place for children to play. My plan is to make in the Newburgh Armory happen sooner than later.”
In the home-ownership program, it takes endurance and the willingness to donate 400 hours of sweat equity ”“ 250 for a single parent ”“ within two years as part of the agreement to become a homeowner. With more than 1,800 families waiting for clean, affordable housing in the city, but only a few houses available each year, “ those who have the desire and the drive will keep reapplying until they are selected to go through the screening process,” Glenn said.
“In return for that sweat equity, they get a decent home with a zero interest mortgage at an affordable price ”“ somewhere in the range of $120,000 for a three bedroom house … and the majority of our families don”™t stop volunteering once they”™ve moved in,” she said.
That”™s what sets Habitat apart for Collins. “It crosses every line and breaks down barriers. It doesn”™t matter what color, nationality or religion you are ”“ it knocks down those walls and brings people together for a common cause ”“ a decent, affordable place to live for working families. Habitat has some unbelievable talent working as volunteers ”“ engineers, architects, carpenters, you name it ”“ all trying to help make the city a better place to live. It”™s really awe-inspiring to be part of it now.”
Habitat will be hosting another Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood tour on Wednesday, Oct. 13 to help familiarize people with its program. For more information, call Habitat at 568-6035 ext. 105.
