Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh [Habitat Newburgh] will be educating new potential homeowners on affordable housing and homeownership financials from the upcoming Homeownership Information Session on Saturday, March 12.

On the Habitat Newburgh’s Facebook page, facebook.com/HabitatNewburgh, the information session is being held at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center [NAUC] on 321 South William Street. The session is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. and conclude at 3 p.m.

On the Habitat Newburgh website, the ‘Homeownership Program’ works with families to find homeownership opportunities while also dedicating time towards sweat equity and homeowner education.

The program also requires Habitat Newburgh families, who partake in this program, to have their own ability to finance an affordable mortgage and that the Habitat family’s income must fall within 30 to 60 percent of the area median income.

Amy Gigliuto, Operations Manager for Habitat Newburgh, provided a brief description of the session schedule for the day. “We have broken the info session down into three parts,” Gigliuto said.

The first part of the session will provide brief and various benefits of homeownership and overall homeownership importance.

The second part focuses on the homeownership program that is mainly held through Habitat Newburgh and the services provided. A video presentation is to be included.

The third part will involve a financial literacy component and interested participants can work with financial advisors and the Habitat Newburgh team filling out potential homeowner applications.

Materials are available in English and Spanish for those interested. Information can be found at habitatnewburgh.org/own-a-home/.

“We really want folks to come into the [homeownership] program and we want them to be homeowners in the City of Newburgh,” Gigliuto said.

As the on-going pandemic continues, Executive Director Matthew Arbolino shared that outreach, now more than ever, is top priority to Habitat Newburgh.

“We need to get more outreach to families,” Arbolino said. “We are still developing houses”.

There are currently nine homes being worked on by Habitat Newburgh in several City of Newburgh neighborhoods with six more anticipated to be worked on, according to Arbolino.

Gigliuto shared the same sentiment with Arbolino with the on-going pandemic and the need for outreach to families.

“If COVID has taught us anything it’s that a home is so critical to all aspects of a family’s life,” Gigliuto said.

Heading into the next few months, Arbolino provided dates on events that Habitat Newburgh will be working on and details are to be determined.

“We have our Walk For Housing that’s upcoming April 24. We have our Golf For Housing event which is the end of May,” Arbolino said.

More information can be found at habitatnewburgh.org.