The Mount Saint Mary College community put on their walking shoes and joined Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh during the 25th annual Walk for Housing, which raised critical funds and awareness for Habitat’s affordable homeownership program on Sunday, April 21.
In addition to more than 100 other community members, nearly two dozen alumni, employees, and friends of the Mount attended.
The walk showed off Habitat Newburgh’s past accomplishments, as well as some of their current build sites. It began at Washington’s Headquarters, with the walk itself led by students from Newburgh Free Academy’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC). Members of the district’s Goldbacks youth cheer squad performed before the walk began.
The Mount recently donated two properties for the construction of affordable housing for local families to Habitat Newburgh. The properties, located at 417 and 419 Liberty Street just behind the college, will be the site of two new Habitat homes. Construction is scheduled to begin almost immediately and will finish by Summer 2025. Mount students, faculty, staff, and alumni will partner with Habitat through several Build Day events to ensure progress of these homes and others like it in the Newburgh area.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh brings together people to build homes, communities, and hope. Founded in October of 1999, the organization has completed more than 100 affordable homes in the area. Habitat Newburgh homeowners – currently more than 120 families – contribute more than $550,000 per year in school and city taxes.