Hudson River Housing, which for a quarter-century has fulfilled a vital mission in helping the less-fortunate in Dutchess County and surrounding areas find housing, celebrated a year of great accomplishments in 2007 while stressing the challenges to come in 2008 at its 26th annual meeting held in the community room of the Public Safety Building at 503 Main St. on Thursday, Feb. 21.
Among the highlights of the event were the announcement that the organization had received an “Exemplary” rating from Neighborworks America, a government-funded group that rates those involved in creating affordable housing, and the presentation of the Community Builder Award to Mark and Moira Persico of Homestead Housing for their rehabilitation of five buildings on the 500 block of Main Street.
With headlines such as “Rising Cost of Living Puts Increasing Economic Pressure On The American Family,” “Crisis in the Credit Market Leads to Record Numbers of Foreclosures,” and “Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan Generate A Surge in the Number of Homeless Veterans” indicating what the national housing situation looks like at the present moment, the work of Hudson River Housing has never been more important.
And as Executive Director Gail V. Webster put it in looking back on 2007, the organization’s success is based on its reciprocal relationship with the communities it serves.
“Our work does not only touch individuals – it affects communities,” she said. “But we could never, ever be able to do all that we are able to do without the support of those communities.’
As the review showed, that work has been considerable over the last year. 2007 saw the completion of Phase I of the Poughkeepsie Homeownership Assistance program, resulting in six new two-family homes on vacant lots in the city; the creation of two affordable rental units at 291 Mill St.; the start of construction on Cannon Street Senior Housing, a 40-unit affordable housing complex for seniors; and the renovation of 10 commercial spaces, 42 rental units and one community arts space along Poughkeepsie’s Main Street corridor. In all, Hudson River Housing touched the lives of 4,000 individuals last year, including 1,000 who were given emergency shelter and 100 households who received permanent supported housing.
New center the key
Yet amidst all this activity, the completion of the Neighborworks Home Ownership Center, also at 291 Mill St., which provides services and training that people need to shop for, purchase, rehabilitate, insure and maintain a home, was highlighted most of all.
“We did it,” exulted Mary F. Linge, director of home ownership and education at the center, referring to the long-in-the-works project. “It is a comfortable space, it is an accessible space. Our customers are educated, they are knowledgeable, they are confident, and they are successful.”
The importance that Hudson River Housing attaches to the rehabilitation of the Main Street corridor was reflected in the choice of Mark and Moira Persico to receive the Community Builder Award.
“We chose Homestead Housing because it is a shining example of the efforts that are being made to revitalize Poughkeepsie’s Main Street corridor,” said Webster. “This year our award honors two people who have seen the potential for building on what has been achieved in the waterfront area and linking it to upper Main Street to revitalize the whole.”
In accepting the award, which was accompanied by a citation from State Sen. Steve Saland (R-Poughkeepsie) also honoring their work, Mark Persico stressed the scope of Hudson River housing’s activities.
“It’s only in the last six months that we’ve come to realize the full scope of what you do,” he said. “It’s similar to what we do, but on a much larger scale. To be recognized by you is an honor.”
May Mamiya, president of Hudson River Housing, noted how tough it is for an organization to receive an “Exemplary” rating from Neighborworks America and characterized it as “a tribute to Gail (Webster) and the whole team.”