Habitat for Humanity is the nation’s 10^th largest builder in 2012, according to Builder Magazine. In 2012, Habitat for Humanity closed on 3,766 affordable, single-family homes nationwide.  To date, Habitat for Humanity has helped build or repair more than 600,000 houses and served more than 3 million people around the world.

As the nation’s 10^th largest homebuilder, Habitat has brought safe, decent, affordable housing to the forefront of America’s neighborhoods, making the creation of vibrant, purpose-driven communities a decision of conscious action.  Not only is Habitat changing the face of affordable housing in our country, we are adding in the ever-important element of sustainability.  Whenever possible, Habitat homes are built using energy-efficient, sustainable materials and practices.   We believe that by developing enduring communities that foster cultural diversity it will lead to greater regional prosperity.

Here at Habitat for Humanity Capital District (HfHCD), we have built 80 homes locally since our inception in 1988.  Currently, we are working in three pillar neighborhoods within the City of Albany and the City of Troy.  Our “Morton’s Walk” project on Alexander Street and Delaware Street in Albany’s South End is nearing the completion of its 16^th and final home.  Currently under construction in the gateway neighborhood of South Troy, our “Fox Hollow” project will boast 14 new single-family homes, and is the largest Habitat project in the city to date.  We are also excited to begin what we think is our biggest, boldest project yet – The Sheridan Hollow Redevelopment Partnership, located in downtown Albany.  This project was born of a transformational collaboration between HfHCD, the Touhey Homeownership Foundation, a Syracuse-based non-profit called Housing Visions, 3tarchitects, the City of Albany as well as other community and academic partners to redevelop Sheridan Hollow as a mixed-income, mixed-use sustainable community. The revitalization of Sheridan Hollow will be a multi-phase, multi-year project. In Phase 1, we will develop 10 single-family homes, complementing 10 additional homes funded by the Touhey Home Ownership Foundation for a total of 20 homeownership units.  Housing Visionshas committed to developing approximately 57 units of quality affordable rental housing to provide mixed-income diversity as well as commercial space within mixed-use buildings.

As a member of the Habitat family, we are proud to be a part of the nation’s 10^th largest builder.  Join the movement and help put an end to substandard housing once and for all.

A select family will receive $25,000 to secure a home in Sheridan Hollow Village and an additional $10,000 for Sponsor-A-Scholar enrollment

M&T Bank has donated $25,000 to Habitat for Humanity Capital District and and additional $10,000 to the Capital Region Sponsor-A-Scholar to help provide a hardworking, lower-income family with the chance to own their own home and funds to prepare their children for high school graduation and higher education.

The home will be the first of 20 new one- and two-family homes in the Habitat for Humanity Capital District’s transformational community development project, Sheridan Hollow Village. The revitalization project aims to rebuild the city’s Sheridan Hollow neighborhood by creating opportunities for affordable homeownership, quality rental housing, commercial investments, streetscape and public park improvements and enhanced public safety.

“Habitat and M&T Bank share a mission of making homeownership a reality for deserving families,” said Michael T. Keegan, Albany Region president for M&T Bank. “We are excited to play a role in the success of the Habitat’s Sheridan Hollow Village, helping to revitalize the local neighborhood that historically has been underserved and overlooked.”

Sitting at the bottom of a ravine, the Hollow—as it’s commonly know—is just blocks from the city’s downtown district, energetic Center Square neighborhood and historic Arbor Hill neighborhood. The neighborhood is largely vacant, with a homeownership rate currently around 19 percent.

“Our sponsors, partners and volunteers are critical to our success,” said Mike Jacobson, Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity. “M&T Bank’s continuous support has enriched our community, helping to ensure that we make affordable homeownership a reality for more hardworking, low-income families.”

To further support the residents of Sheridan Hollow, M&T Bank donated $10,000 to the Capital Region Sponsor-A-Scholar program for the family of the first home. The donation will cover the cost of enrolling the family’s child in the Sponsor-A-Scholar program, which helps at-risk students flourish academically through support in the form of time, mentors and money.

“This combined $35,000 contribution helps to build an environment for learning, benefitting the child as well as the whole community through higher graduation and college enrollment rates,” said Keegan.

With this gift, M&T Bank has provided a total of $117,500 in support for Habitat for Humanity Capital District since 2001.

The organization held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 11 a.m. on the corner of Dove St. and Sheridan Ave. Construction of the 20 homes is expected to be completed within 12-18 months.

Habitat for Humanity Capital District & the Touhey Homeownership Foundation Announce Sheridan Hollow Groundbreaking

Habitat for Humanity Capital District (HfHCD) breaks ground on its biggest build yet! The Sheridan Hollow Redevelopment Partnership was born of a transformational collaboration between HfHCD, Housing Visions, the Touhey Homeownership Foundation, 3tarchitects, ITT Technical Institute, the City of Albany as well as other community and academic partners to redevelop Sheridan Hollow as a mixed-income, mixed-use sustainable community. This comprehensive project will effect broad change by creating opportunities for affordable homeownership, quality rental housing, new retail and commercial investments, streetscape improvements, enhanced public safety and neighborhood revitalization.

The revitalization of Sheridan Hollow will be a multi-phase, multi-year project. In Phase 1, HfHCD will develop 10 single-family homes, complementing 10 additional homes funded by the Touhey Home Ownership Foundation for a total of 20 homeownership units. Housing Visions commits to developing approximately 57 units of quality affordable rental housing to provide mixed-income diversity as well as commercial space within mixed-use buildings. A 9,000 square foot commercial space will feature Habitat for Humanity Capital District’s office, Housing Visions’ property management office, and additional space available for retail, office, or restaurants.

The event will take place on the corner of Sheridan Avenue and Dove Street at 11 A.M. on May 16, 2013. Please join us as we welcome elected city and county officials, as well as Assemblyman John McDonald, and our many project partners and sponsors. Project sponsors include the New York State Office of Homes & Community Renewal, Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, First Niagara, the City of Albany, and Albany County. House sponsors include M&T Bank, First Niagara, CDPHP, the James McKee Jr. and Doris N. McKee Family Charitable Foundation, the Albany District Chapter of The Links, the Albany Chapter of The Girl Friends, Inc., the Delta Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Omicron Epsilon Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and the Black Woman’s Association of Albany.

The warm weather has finally come and what better way is there to spend your time than outside, enjoying the warm weather!? Click HERE to volunteer for one of Habitat for Humanity Capital District’s work sites! You can get your tan on and a workout, all the while building homes for deserving, lower-income families!! Families on Delaware Street will move in soon so that they can enjoy the beautiful weather in their new, energy efficient, LEED certified homes!

Last Friday we had a group of volunteers from Target. They helped out with sheet rocking, painting, and installing decks on Delaware Street. We also had a couple of students from SUNY Albany’s group, Tau Sigma, on Saturday that helped with installing decks, painting trim, painting cornices, and caulking windows. We would like to thank all of our hardworking volunteers, homeowners, and sponsors that have put so much time and effort in to making this construction process possible, we couldn’t do it without you!!

Habitat for Humanity Capital District would like to thanks all of the Hudson Valley art students for graciously making and donating an absolutely awesome picnic table! On Thursday the Hudson Valley students donated a table adorned with a chess board and backgammon board on the table itself!! This table will be for the use of all of the families at the Fox Hollow site and they couldn’t be more excited!  Thanks Hudson Valley Community College!!

In April 2012, Habitat for Humanity, the City of Albany Planning Department, The Touhey Homeownership Foundation, and 3tarchitects led a four day intensive design charrette to collect community input, ideas and feedback and to develop a comprehensive, sustainable, mixed-income, mixed-use, community-driven plan to revitalize a section of the Sheridan Hollow neighborhood. Our plan was ambitious: to invite government officials, community leaders, academic centers, subject-area experts and neighbors together to create a shared vision for the Hollow. Not just a vision for “someday” or “eventually” but a buildable vision that could be implemented in short time.

What emerged was a large-scale implementation strategy to develop the Sheridan Hollow neighborhood as a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable community. Our revitalization partners, which also includes Housing Visions of Syracuse, New York, have invested in the neighborhood and bring to the table key elements and resources for our shared vision.

In the months since, we have been busy. Plans have been drawn, resolutions of support have been passed, funding and lines of credit have been acquired and partnerships continue to be forged. Our collective group is a driving force and the energy behind a coalition of providers that will develop homes, park space, quality rental housing, commercial and retail space, improved multi-modal transportation options and other services in the Hollow.

On May 16, 2013 we will break ground on the single most transformational project in Habitat for Humanity’s history. We will put into action what so many residents, business owners and leaders have confirmed is a strong, viable and implementable redevelopment plan. On May 16, we will be joined by state and local government leaders and our vast network of supporters to celebrate the beginning of a new era. Construction will begin on affordable, sustainable homes for hardworking, lower-income families, which includes one and two family models. Commercial and retail space will be built to attract private investment in services and amenities. Quality, affordable rental units will be constructed and we will redevelop a public park and veterans memorial. Trees will be planted and sidewalks repaired. Families will help build the homes that will lift them out of working class poverty, that will provide safe and productive learning environments for their children, and that will stabilize and revitalize a neighborhood. Our coalition of supporters and partners will continue to grow and we will transform an entire neighborhood together.

Join us for our Sheridan Hollow

Groundbreaking Ceremony

Thursday, May 16, 2013

11 o’clock in the morning

The corner of Dove Street & Sheridan Avenue

RSVP at HabitatCD.org/Events or (518) 462-2993

Last Thursday we got a lot of sheet rocking done, thanks to our strong ,hardworking, volunteers! We’ve nearly finish sheet rocking in houses 61 and 63 Delaware Street but we still have a ways to go in 65 and 67 so click HERE to volunteer!! Scared of sheet rocking or using power tools?? That’s ok, we have a job for you! Help with painting, moving supplies, and installing appliances is always needed! Habitat for Humanity Capital District also has a ReStore at 454 North Pearl Street where people can volunteer, click HERE to check it out!

NOW HIRING

Part-Time Bookkeeper

Habitat for Humanity Capital District is making a difference in the lives of many of our hard working lower income families. Through the realization of the American dream of owning a home, we are helping to provide the foundation for stronger and healthier families and neighborhoods. If you have a passion for our mission, here is an opportunity to apply your skills and truly make a difference, and have a good time while you do.

We are seeking a Bookkeeping professional with extensive knowledge of Quickbooks, and experience handling Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable. Applicant must have at least High School diploma or equivalent, and a minimum 1 year work experience in similar job.

The position is available immediately for 15-25 hrs/week at $14.00-$18.00/hr depending on experience.

Interested individuals please email your resume and a cover letter to David Brown at David@HabitatCD.org 

CAYP for a Cause launched its first project this past March with a group volunteer day on our Fox Hollow site in Troy.

CAYP for a Cause is a sub-committee of Capital Alliance of Young Professionals members who are interested in helping to further professional and social growth by participating in community engagement and service activities that benefit non-profits throughout the Capital Region. Not only does CAYP help young professionals in our area make successful career moves through regular networking events, but they are also making a real difference in our community through monthly volunteering events.

To showcase their time with us, CAYP and fellow member and videographer Sean Junda, put together an amazing piece on the important role volunteers play in our organization. Volunteering is a fun and rewarding experience that is integral to the Habitat model. Without our volunteers, our homes would not get built. Habitat is looking forward to partnering with CAYP for Cause again in the future!

The Bonadio Group’s annual Construction Summit in March raised $4,200 for Habitat!  The 2013 Construction Summit East was put on by the Bonadio Group, as well as co-sponsors Couch White, Cool Insuring Agency and NBT Bank.  All registration fees for the event were donated, and our very own Development Director, Christine Hmiel was in attendance to accept the check on Habitat’s behalf.

Our partnership with the Bonadio Group goes back to 2005 and since then, they have donated around $47,000 in an effort to help Habitat eliminate substandard housing in our community. The Bonadio Group is a statewide CPA and financial consultant firm that delivers accounting, auditing and tax services, coupled with a wide variety of specialty services for all different types of businesses.

Thanks, Bonadio Group!