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Habitat for Humanity

How “Habititis is Spreading” Since Habitat for Humanity Arrived in Chappaqua

March 5, 2017 by Janine Crowley Haynes

HHW CEO Jim Killoran holding hat N.M.U. 30 to 30–standing for No More Ugly, transforming 30 neighborhoods in celebration of Habitat’s 30th anniversary.

We all know Habitat for Humanity for the wonderful things they do around the globe to provide housing for those in need, but Habitat for Humanity of Westchester (HHW) has also been busy working closer to home–at 300 King Street in Chappaqua to be exact. The structure was originally the Orthodox (Quaker) Friends’ Meeting House built in 1885.

I visited the site and was received with a warm, enthusiastic welcome from HHW CEO Jim Killoran. His fervor and passion for what he does is infectious. “New York is the most exited state in the country,” says Killoran, a longtime New Rochelle resident. “We want to create ownership….In-town, affordable homeownership is a vital component in keeping our communities thriving,” he notes.

Killoran has been working with HHW for 30 years in various capacities. He’s a specialist in disaster relief and was involved in mobilizing approximately 9,000 volunteers to help with the vast cleanup after Hurricane Sandy, particularly in the Rockaways and Breezy Point where entire communities were basically submerged. He is also involved in projects providing housing for veterans.

“My assistant is a wounded warrior, my uncles were all in WWII…and my cousin was killed in Vietnam. So, it’s a cause very near and dear to my heart,” says Killoran.

In scale, 300 King Street is a small project.Upon completion, it will be a two-unit condominium, each approximately 1,800 square feet with three bedrooms and two baths. Westchester County purchased 300 King Street via HUD from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer for approximately $300,000, and each unit will sell around $250,000 to $280,000.

Applications are submitted to the Housing Action Council. Applicants must qualify “with incomes at or below 80 percent of the Westchester County’s Area Median Income….” The qualified applicants are then put into a lottery.

Architect Bill Spade of Sasaki + Spade, who has donated his time and talent, notes that 300 King Street will be HHW’s most energy–efficient structure built to date.

Like most construction projects, 300 King Street has not been met without its challenges. They discovered the foundation was unstable and needed to be shored up.

In terms of the design, “Habitat’s acceptance of the Town Historic Designation committed to restore the exterior to its original appearance,” says Spade. “The style, Stick Victorian, is to match the original structure when it was reconstructed on this site in 1885,” he adds. The exterior design will match the original building, and the front porch will remain with all of the original materials. The exterior siding and trim around the remainder of the building will be new but will replicate the original look. The interior will be all new. There will also be green space created in the front of the building for a garden.

Habitat Crew on site at 300 King Street

The target date of completion is September 2017, but a lot depends on fundraising and volunteerism. HHW is kicking off a Buy-a-Brick campaign where donors’ names will be engraved in a brick and incorporated in the structure as well as walkways. Donors can also purchase energy-efficient windows with their names etched in the glass.

Although Westchester County purchased the building for $300,000, it’s HHW’s responsibility, as developer, to raise additional funds for supplies, materials, and volunteer staff to donate their time and professional skills for painting, landscaping, etc. “We ultimately would like to raise an additional $300,000 for the completion,” says Killoran.

Aside from monetary donations, fundraising can also come in the form of companies donating materials. “Franzoso Contracting has donated all the roofing materials, Silverstein Properties donated lumber, and Dow donated insulation,” Killoran notes.

Volunteerism is Habitat’s signature. “We are committed to every youth, from GED to PhD, we teach them to build, to make things, to use their hands….Horace Greeley kids volunteer through the Habitat Club,” says Killoran. “Also, football teams, 50 high schools, 14,000 college students…when kids volunteer, they realize they’ve changed the trajectory of families’ lives by getting involved. It’s an amazing thing!”

The project is not just for the young.

People of all ages offer their time and expertise, like longtime Chappaqua resident David Kellogg. “I kept driving by the site, and the sign would always catch my eye.

I had to check it out,” says Kellogg.

Now retired, Kellogg was the publisher for Foreign Affairs Magazine and an adjunct professor for the Columbia School of Journalism. However, woodworking happens to be his hobby. He now donates his time and woodworking skills, helping with gutting, framing, and, eventually, interior trim work. “I’ve met some incredible people volunteering on this project,” says Kellogg. “Retirees are our heart. They now volunteer on Tuesdays and Thursdays. From 8 to 84 and more, everyone is a youth with Habitat….Habititis is spreading!” says Killoran.

Chappaqua/Pleasantville resident and volunteer Sue Halper commented on how much she has learned about energy efficiency and has implemented many of the energy-saving techniques in her own home. “We’ve reduced our energy consumption by 20 percent,” says Halper.

HHW is also busy building another two-unit home at 437 Saw Mill River Road in Millwood. “We’ve had wonderful support from the surrounding communities….After all, homeownership really is the American Dream,” says Killoran.

To learn more, donate or volunteer, please visit www.habitatwc.org.

Janine Crowley Haynes is a Chappaqua resident and author of My Kind of Crazy: Living in a Bipolar World.

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: 300 King Street, Chappaqua, Habitat for Humanity, Housing, Jim Killoran, volunteer

Strong Starts

March 5, 2017 by Inside Press

By Grace Bennett

For the March/April ’17 Spring edition, I focused on ‘strong starts’ in different community arenas—in particular with a special cover story on area libraries written by past Inside Press Editor Beth Besen and photographed by Gary Sapolin. I so admire how our libraries rose to the ‘virtual world’ challenge with a hyper-focus on programming to become safe, nurturing havens for human contact and lively exchanges.

Another strong start includes Habitat for Humanity’s amazing efforts in Chappaqua, so I’m grateful for Janine Crowley Haynes’ interview with the devoted Jim Killoran, too.

Spring cleaning efforts are always a strong start to the season; I think you’ll appreciate the E-tools Dana Wu suggests we consider toward that goal.

We even tackle the topic of marriage! After pondering her own experiences, Miriam Longobardi offers different experts’ advice on navigating a ‘marriage in limbo,’ while, on our final etcetera page, Danika Altman, Ph.D., shares sound marriage-saving advice. And, there’s the usual ‘more!’

Just Between Us again, as time permits, I keep up with political posts and assorted other stories ‘in between editions,’ at theinsidepress.com, and in social media on Facebook, primarily, at Inside Chappaqua and Inside Armonk Magazines (on both our ‘business’ or ‘group’ pages) which link to Twitter; you can follow my tweets on Twitter https://twitter.com/TheInsidePress . Many insiders also follow my general ‘Grace Bennett’ Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/InsidePress. These posts combined (a single one striking a chord can reach thousands upon thousands of ‘viewers,’) I hope portray many neighbors’ resolve for staying true to ourselves both at home and outside our community.

For such posts (and other news that doesn’t make it into print), please visit the New Castle News, Inside Thoughts and other links at our (I’m proud to say) newly re-designed Inside Press site which you’re in right now, of course!  🙂  Examples include stories on Up2Us sponsored events, including that of a meeting at New Castle Town Hall where several gun violence protection groups met with Congresswoman Nita Lowey to strategize. http://theinsidepress.com/gun-violence-prevention-groups-promote-coalition-building/I assigned the Habitat story to Janine following our social media coverage of a Habitat for Humanity fundraiser which was attended by both Hillary and Bill Clinton for a wonderful jazz night with Daniel Lauter, et al, performing at Chappaqua Station. See pics below!

Online too: my interview with Susan Chatzky who chaired a Planned Parenthood Comedy Night fundraiser; Kelly Leonard’s story about a teenage, interfaith effort on Martin Luther King Day–the teens packaged humanitarian aid to send to Syrian refugees; Up2Us Dawn Evans Greenberg’s profile of the Hudson Valley Justice Center which provides legal guidance to immigrants http://theinsidepress.com/hudson-valley-justice-center-describes-impact-of-trumps-policies-on-immigrant-communities/and a story about a Chappaqua graphic artist, Alex de Janosi, whose anti Trump ‘No’ logo has taken off. http://theinsidepress.com/chappaqua-artists-no-logo-graphic-strikes-a-chord/http://theinsidepress.com/chappaqua-artists-no-logo-graphic-strikes-a-chord/

There’s also nothing quite like the energy and conviction in young people voices, so particularly firing up our site recently were essays by Greeley sophomore Julia Bialek,  http://theinsidepress.com/thank-you-mr-president and Aemilia Phillips, HGHS, class of ‘12 and Harvard class of ’16 http://theinsidepress.com/greeley-grads-passionate-plea-to-reject-choice-of-trump-national-for-senior-prom/

Three New Castle young men and a young lady spoke eloquently at a late winter rally organized by the town’s Inclusion and Diversity Committee to protest the travel ban. Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein, Dr. Rev. Martha Jacobs of the First Congregational Church, and Temple Beth El’s Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe, each addressed hundreds gathered around the Gazebo. Footage from that inspiring event can also be found on the aforementioned Facebook pages.

And of course, there will be much more appearing online from the time I’m writing this ‘for print.’  Chappaqua is my home, where I raised my children, so I’m proud to and love feeling its vibe and monitoring its pulse. 

Shortly before press time too, I was gearing up to moderate a panel of esteemed journalists on March 3 called “Separating Truth from Fiction in the Age of Trump” in a Left of Main Street sponsored forum at Town Hall. Coverage is online now!  http://theinsidepress.com/the-fourth-estate-covering-the-trump-administration/

Note too: a non-partisan forum, “Media and Politics: The Impact on our Democracy,” sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New Castle, will take place at the Chappaqua Library on April 6th, 7-9 p.m.

I will continue to embrace community activism and outreach in my heart and in my soul. On a most personal level, that’s a strong enough start for me.  -Grace

Bill Clinton and Jim Killoran

 

 

Photos by Grace Bennett

 

 

Filed Under: Just Between Us Tagged With: 2017, Bill Clinton, Chappaqua Station, Clintons, Daniel Lauter, Grace Bennett, Habitat for Humanity, Hillary Clinton, Jim Killoran, Library Programming, New Castle Inclusion and Diversity Committe, Westchester Libraries

Habitat for Humanity of Westchester 
Builds Affordable Housing – and So Much More

March 4, 2015 by The Inside Press

Pictured on this page and the next one are local college student volunteers hard at work finishing a Veteran's home in Yonkers in late January.
Pictured on this page and the next one are local college student volunteers hard at work finishing a Veteran’s home in Yonkers in late January.

By Miriam Longobardi

Many students eager to join volunteer organizations that build homes in impoverished communities choose exotic locales such as Africa, Haiti, or Central America. This frustrates Jim Kiloran, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Westchester. “I’ve seen people die in substandard housing right here in Westchester County, though few can believe that. Greed overtakes practical, simple living. Nobody should go to bed in substandard housing in one of America’s wealthiest counties,” he told me. This passionate belief drove Jim to get involved with Habitat nearly thirty years ago, taking over and transforming entire communities, and meeting five presidents along the way. He finds it discouraging that, in Westchester, with its wealth, top students and corporate leaders, so few people become locally involved. Even many in the faith communities take their youth groups out of town on mission projects.

habitat-oneGrowing up, Jim recalls hearing about the extremes of wealth in the US and the war on poverty. He also thought about community and demographics, and was motivated to become involved at a grass roots level. He believes that affordable housing creates a “neighborhood” in the true sense of the word; a community where families and local businesses are connected and grow. Today, with shifting demographics, this is more important than ever. “Generations of families living in one community is a foreign concept today,” suggests Jim. As kids grow up and move away, and older people move to warmer climates, the lack of connectivity within communities impacts everyone from residents to local businesses. Affordable housing makes it more viable for people to stay in their homes and this, in turn, maintains the community.

“The best thing that ever happened was Byram Hills High School starting a Habitat Club,” he said. This was thanks to Dwayne Smith, a Byram Hills teacher and the Habitat Club advisor until 2009. Byram Hills was the first high school in Westchester to do this, and now sixty area schools have Habitat Clubs. Empowering youth to use their abilities to transform neighborhoods is what gives Jim hope. “I don’t need politicians, I need people.”

Brandon Michaels, a Byram Hills graduate and now college junior, is an example of how getting involved at an early age changes lives. Growing up in Armonk, he was “shell-shocked” at age thirteen when, along with a friend whose older sibling was a Habitat Club member, he went into a dilapidated church in New Rochelle to help paint. “What can I possibly do to improve this?” he thought, seeing peeling paint and rusty folding chairs. Though he felt their improvements were modest, church members were incredibly 
grateful for all their hard work. This feeling of having made a difference is what inspired him.

habitat-2As a freshman he became very involved in Habitat Club, regularly attending meetings, organizing monthly fundraisers and going to building sites. Habitat Club members face logistical problems as their work is done off school grounds and on weekends. Transportation to and from job sites took organizing, but car pools formed so kids could arrive together. Parents also had concerns about the neighborhoods where the kids worked, the tools they were using, and the nature of the work. “This work is very challenging,” Brandon said. As his commitment became evident to Jim, Brandon was given more responsibilities and the leadership role of site supervisor. Parents trusted Brandon to drive their kids and look out for them on job sites.

Brandon was instrumental in recruiting other students and strengthening the club, even doing his senior internship with Habitat. He recognizes that his relationship with Jim has evolved into friendship. “I enjoy the work. I always have. We have so much more than so many people – this is not anything I’d do for recognition.” That said, Brandon was recognized after his senior internship and honored with a plaque at the annual Habitat luncheon.

His advice to students is to join Habitat Club or create one. In addition to volunteering on job sites, there are area Habitat Restores that sell household items such as gently used furniture, appliances, and building materials at greatly reduced prices. These stores are in constant need of volunteers and a great way to get one’s foot in the door and be considered for job site work. 
“If Jim knows who you are, you’re doing something right,” Brandon said.

Meanwhile, Jim continues his crusade to have Habitat homes in every town in Westchester. “Without affordable housing, Westchester cannot succeed. We were all put on this earth to volunteer,” he said. “Let’s take that wealth, knowledge and ability and transform. We can do it!”

Are you ready to volunteer? Jim is waiting for you.
For more information, visit www.habitatwc.org

Miriam is a freelance writer, fourth grade teacher and single mother of two daughters living in Westchester. A breast cancer survivor, she volunteers for the American Cancer Society and has completed four marathons and travels the world. Follow her on Twitter @writerMimiLong.

Filed Under: Armonk Cover Stories Tagged With: affordable housing, Habitat Club, Habitat for Humanity, Neighborhood

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