2008 Woodie Awards
College-owned house turned over to Habitat for Humanity project
Erika Schnitzer
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: News
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Union College will be bringing the campus community together to help refurbish a campus-owned house that the school has donated to Habitat for Humanity.
According to Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County Jeffrey Clark, Union is believed to be the first college in the region to both donate a house and provide volunteer labor to Habitat.
As President Stephen Ainlay explained, "the idea for donating the house…was generated by a number of people rather than only one individual or group. A number of students, interested in starting a Union chapter of Habitat, were helpful. So too were people in Facilities. Ultimately, it was a decision by the Board of Trustees who must approve an action of this sort."
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that "seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action," according to the website.
The organization unites volunteers from the community with the homeowner, or partner, families to build and renovate homes for low-income families. The average cost of building a Habitat house in the United States is approximately $60,000. Since its establishment in 1976, the organization has built and restored over 150,000 houses.
"Union was selected last year as one of about two dozen schools nationwide as a 'good neighbor' to the community in which it is located. We have a tradition of reaching out to Schenectady in a variety of ways," Ainlay noted
"In one sense, this initiative then is carrying on that tradition. Beyond that, Habitat is a remarkable program that has realized great success," continued Ainlay.
What makes Union unique is that the school is not only providing the house, located at 1124 Barrett Street, but also involving the campus in its renovation.
As Jeffrey Clark stated, "This is a very significant contribution to start with…and the fact that now [Union] wants to get involved and actually do the physical labor and help in other ways too is just terrific."
According to Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County Jeffrey Clark, Union is believed to be the first college in the region to both donate a house and provide volunteer labor to Habitat.
As President Stephen Ainlay explained, "the idea for donating the house…was generated by a number of people rather than only one individual or group. A number of students, interested in starting a Union chapter of Habitat, were helpful. So too were people in Facilities. Ultimately, it was a decision by the Board of Trustees who must approve an action of this sort."
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that "seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action," according to the website.
The organization unites volunteers from the community with the homeowner, or partner, families to build and renovate homes for low-income families. The average cost of building a Habitat house in the United States is approximately $60,000. Since its establishment in 1976, the organization has built and restored over 150,000 houses.
"Union was selected last year as one of about two dozen schools nationwide as a 'good neighbor' to the community in which it is located. We have a tradition of reaching out to Schenectady in a variety of ways," Ainlay noted
"In one sense, this initiative then is carrying on that tradition. Beyond that, Habitat is a remarkable program that has realized great success," continued Ainlay.
What makes Union unique is that the school is not only providing the house, located at 1124 Barrett Street, but also involving the campus in its renovation.
As Jeffrey Clark stated, "This is a very significant contribution to start with…and the fact that now [Union] wants to get involved and actually do the physical labor and help in other ways too is just terrific."
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