The Balbuena family received keys to a new three-bedroom home. Maureen Crush joins them on right.
By Nancy Peckenham
Three families took possession of their new homes on Saturday in the city of Newburgh, a result of a long partnership with Habitat of Humanity of Greater Newburgh, which relies on the partner families and hundreds of additional volunteers to reclaim abandoned buildings and lots around the city and turn them into homes.
Chrisoforo Balbuena took the keys to the new three-bedroom townhouse on E. Parmenter Street where he will be living with his wife, a son, two daughters and infant grandson. Next door, Holly Mousseau and her young daughter, Rowan, checked out the new two-bedroom townhouse, while Nuria Ortiz will be living to the left of her in a nearly identical residence.
Habitat for Humanity’s long-term plans call for a total of 24 homes to be built on East Parmenter Street; five were completed last year and more are in the works. The end project will be a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood in a recognized historic district where just a few years ago stood blighted and abandoned structures.
Maureen Crush, the president of the Greater Newburgh Habitat for Humanity, told the volunteers, family and supporters who came to Saturday’s dedication ceremony that when they were tearing down the old rundown buildings the police came by to thank them for making it safer for them to patrol the streets. “Every time we tear down, we create or build an anchor in the city of Newburgh for a family, “ Crush said.
William Kaplan hugs Nuria Ortiz after he gave her the keys to her new home.
William Kaplan was on hand at the ceremony and even though he had not planned to speak, he was clearly moved by the transformation made possible in part with donations from the William and Elaine Kaplan Family Charitable Fkoundation. “What I see at Habitat greatly thrills me, their vision to create housing and get people out of inadequate housing while putting some $12 million of property back on the tax rolls,” Kaplan said before handing out the keys to new houses to the partner families. “You can expect support from us over a very long period of time,” he added.
The funding for Habitat buys buildings, lots and supplies while most of the labor comes from volunteers who work on Wednesdays and Saturdays on the construction projects. Marci Gurton, the departing director of development ,says the Newburgh branch of the national organization counts on about 2,000 volunteers, including individuals who return every week and groups that may perform occasional days of work. Nearly 2-300 hundred individuals show up to volunteer on a regular basis.
Some of the volunteers and friends who came to be part of the dedication of the homes.
Pat Fogarty, who sponsored Holly Mousseau’s work at Habitat, said that she has known the young mother since she was a 15-year-old student at Newburgh Free Academy, where Fogarty was a guidance counselor. “Isn’t it wonderful? I’ve watched her since she was 15, watched her dream,” Fogarty said. “I’m thrilled to see what this young woman has done with her life.”
Following blessings from a representative of the Church of Latter Day saints and the Rev. Dr. Richard Spierling, the chair of Habaitat’s Faith Relation Committee, the families could begin the focus on the lives ahead of them as owners of a new home. Rowan Mousseau, dressed in a bright red tutu in advance of an afternoon ballot recital, showed her young friends around her new home. “Let’s go upstairs,” she said, disappearing up the stairs.
Rowan and her friend Benny were ready to explore her new home.
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