“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Recently the City of Newburgh declared a “Housing Emergency”, this action by the city council immediately “freezes rents in eligible buildings at their current rates, gives eligible tenants protection from no-cause evictions and kicks off a process for the appointment of a rent guidelines board that would have the power to set limits on rent increases.” as reported by the Times Herald-Record writer Mike Randall. While Habitat is happy to support the renters of Newburgh, we need to encourage the City Council to look closer at the issues that surround homeownership, these issues include the taxation of properties with government subsidies and the shrinking real estate available to build homes. But we are not just about building houses; it’s about building community. Our community is diverse and has diverse needs. Currently, we are working with Habitat International and MBS consultants for Phase One of a Safety Initiative. Our Neighborhood revitalization team has been working diligently to bring together all community partners to address the Safety needs of the City of Newburgh. We will be hosting a series of workshops later in January. Some may wonder what role Habitat has in Safety, however, our team is looking at the holistic impact Safety has on ensuring that Everyone has a decent place to live. We are growing, looking through the lens of our mission in many ways, and intentionally ensuring all are welcome here. If we continue to hold onto our mission of bringing people together, we can hold strong during times of challenge and controversy.
Jill Marie,
Executive Director
jillmarie@habitatnewburgh.org
To view a brief video of this year's MLK Day of Service click here
