Habitat Newburgh Set to be Recipients of $2M Gift

By Jennifer L. Warren

NEWBURGH – Statistics can speak volumes; the 84 out of 1100 one has the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh Chapter feeling extremely fortunate and deeply grateful.

Recently, the 23 year old Habitat Chapter, the largest and most productive in the Hudson Valley, which has completed 102 homes for 126 families through unique partnerships involving sweat equity, learned they were included among a select group of 84 out of 1100 Habitat Chapters to receive an impressive and unexpected $2 million gift. The altruistic gesture is all part of a $436 million dollar package that will be distributed among 84 Habitat affiliates as well as Habitat for Humanity International by American Author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Guided by the mantra, “Helping any of us can help us all,” Scott carefully selected the Habitat for Humanity organization as recipients based upon their long, proven committed vision to offering a “hand-up” to families, allowing them to directly tally work hours contributing to constructing their homes as well as become educated on the entire home ownership process, while ensuring the principles of safe, decent and affordable housing for all.

“This $2 million dollars represents much more than just a money amount; it is a catalyst for our community and everyone around us,” said Matt Arbolino, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh, at a special ceremony held in front of 139 Johnston Street in the City of Newburgh, the site of one of nine Habitat of Greater Newburgh Houses currently under construction. “This is by no means an end game; we still need to do better, as the building situation is dire right now, and it’s very hard for families in Newburgh to afford to live where they grew up, so we are very grateful for this gift, especially coming out of the blue and so unsolicited.

Despite its impromptu nature, the funds will have no trouble being put to immediate and critical use. Since 2020, financing for constructing just one house in the City of Newburgh has spiked by about $100,000; with an average of 6-10 homes being built year round, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh sees the direct applicable translation of the much needed gift funds. Not only will the monies help cover the construction bills, but so too the equally important expansion of programs provided to Habitat families during the whole process of their transformative home ownership journeys.

“It has been a remarkable 23 years so far, and we need to continue the work we do,” said Paul Brothe, Board President of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh, who also added words of heartfelt appreciation for the surprise gift funds at Friday’s gathering. “We have a strategic plan we are going to use for this money, and it’s also important to know we are a global organization.”

Scott recognizes that global connection of Habitat with her $25 million allotment to Habitat International. The world-wide agency intends to use those monies for its continued efforts aimed at advocacy and programs addressing dismantling systematic racism in the housing sphere. More specifically, the Cost of Home advocacy campaign as well as other programs to increase black home ownership via targeting systematic barriers is set to launch this summer.

In the meantime, back in the City of Newburgh, nine Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh homes are actively in the process of being built. The unwavering commitment to all that Habitat stands for could be seen all over the faces of the volunteers who were in the midst of doing some framework at the 139 Johnston Street residence.

“This grant is going to be amazing; it’s going to help us stabilize as an organization as we implement our strategic plan for it over time,” said veteran volunteer Ed Wolf, and two-time Treasurer for Habitat Newburgh, who works with the Finance Committee and was hard at work on the Johnston Street home Friday. “The people I work with here are amazing; we never have a fight, and all work together.” The long-time volunteer paused, surveying the surrounding framework around him. “We are doing things for people who need help, and that is what is really important to me.”

And that help still remains.

“This is history; we are making history in the City of Newburgh with this gift,” affirmed devoted Habit of Greater Newburgh supporter, City of Newburgh Mayor, Torrance Harvey. “However, this is the beginning; we need our local chapters to step it up and for all of us to continue to donate to and support Habitat in any way we can.”