NEWBURGH – Habitat for Humanity of Newburgh broke ground on their newest housing project Wednesday. Located on Ann Street in the City of Newburgh, it marks the beginning of their second Faith Builds project sponsored by the local inter-faith community.
Groundbreaking on Wednesday
Project rendering
The project includes four three-bedroom homes, representing a construction total of approximately $800,000 and an estimated finishing cost of $1 million. Two of the homes already have found families to occupy them and the two remaining are still open for family applicants.
Each home in the project has been sponsored by faith coalitions that have had longtime ties partnering with Habitat, such as PresbyBuild, EpiscoBuild, and Methodist and Friends Build.
One of the four homes, dubbed the “Unity House,” will be located on the corner of Ann Street and will symbolize all the faith-based sponsors, including those from other faiths that have partnered with Habitat in their philanthropic efforts.
EpiscoBuild, and Methodist and Friends Build, are marking their sixth time sponsoring Habitat builds, with PresbyBuild marking their eighth sponsored build; however, many other faith-based coalitions, without the capabilities to sponsor full builds, have dedicated their time and money to Habitat as well.
Newburgh Habitat’s Executive Director Cathy Collins said that’s what makes this project, and the Unity House specifically, so important.
“It’s their way to see the tangibility of their ongoing, and continued, support,” said Collins. “It’s a special relationship that we have with the faith community, and not only just in the physical building but, in keeping the spirits up and that this work continues, and is needed, in this community that needs hope in its revitalization.”
Families who want to apply need only meet Habitat’s four criteria: they need the ability to pay their household expenses, including a mortgage; they have to be within 30 to 60 percent of the area’s median annual income of approximately $35,000; they have to agree to partner with Habitat; and they need to display a need for affordable, decent housing.
Construction on the Faith Builds II Ann Street project will begin Monday next week, with dedications for the four houses in spring/early summer of 2017. Habitat also has other housing projects within the city they will be dedicating, six dedications over the next three months according to Collins.
