By Chuck Stewart, Jr.
Newburgh - It’s been two years since Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh participated in the Home Builders Blitz. Since then, a lot has changed.
In April of 2006, Habitat completed and dedicated it’s 20th house to the Clegg family. That same month they adopted a strategic plan to complete the next 20 houses in half the time - by summer 2009. Today, with more than 30 houses complete, they are well on their way to achieving that goal.
In 2006, David McTamaney was President of the Board of Directors for Habitat. Today, that job belongs to Moacyr Calhelha. And while Deirdre Glenn is still the Executive Director of Habitat, Deborah Flippin is the new Director of Finance & Development, replacing long time "fixture" Jessica Sun.
Next month Habitat will open a ReStore - a place where people can donate and purchase construction materials at a discounted price.
However, some things have not changed, like the need for decent, affordable housing. So Habitat of Newburgh joined 110 Habitat affiliates in the nationwide effort to make affordable housing a reality.
The week-long build event kicked off on Monday morning at 7 a.m., when local building partners (Builders Association of the Hudson Valley, Rieger Homes, Schoonmaker Homes, Ferrante & Memmelaar Homes and Ruby Homes) began constructing two Habitat homes.
In just five days, the building partners had completed two, two-story, attached houses on Dubois Street in the City of Newburgh. From framing to plumbing, electrical to roofing, sheet rock to painting - it was all done in record time.
On Saturday, the building partners along with Habitat dedicated the two houses to the Cruz and Perez families. Both families expressed how excited, happy and thankful they are for Habitat and the building partners for their hard work.
Each family will soon be leaving apartments that are too small, in exchange for their spacious new homes. The children will be able to play in the yard when it’s warm outside and in the basement when it get’s colder. Mother’s will no longer fear rodents, gangs or lead poisoning.
A tearful Alejandro Perez said, "It’s incredible what Habitat can do in five days."
