Rosalyn Jolly, a recently selected family partner forHabitat-NYC’s Atlantic Avenue complex, spent a swel-tering first day on the site during early June’s record-

breaking heat wave.

High temperatures and matching humidity emphasized the“sweat” in “sweat equity.” But Rosalyn says she had so muchfun building her future home that she barely even noticed theheat. “It was great. I loved the work and the volunteers,” shesays with undampened enthusiasm. “I can’t wait to go back!”

No stranger to hard work, Rosalyn’s job as a clerk with Roosevelt Island’s Coler Hospital, part of the city’s Healthand Hospitals Corporation system, includes dealing withmountains of paperwork, wrangling phone calls and jug-gling the other endless administrative tasks that keep thehospital running smoothly.

Habitat-NYC Homes Are Transforming a Community

Continued on page 5

Building Her Own Slice of the Big AppleFamily Partner Rosalyn Jolly

Aonce-barren block isnow blooming.

As construction progresses,Atlantic Avenue and EasternParkway in Ocean Hill-Brownsville, Brooklyn—foryears reviled as an eyesore—has become a flourishing fieldof dreams-come-true for 41future Habitat-NYC home-owners.

This largest-ever Habitat-NYC projectis particularly significant in a commu-nity where the typical family lives ononly $22,000 a year.

Family partner Rosalyn Jolly, profiledbelow, says that these homes representour families’ own small slices of the BigApple, their legacy to their children—and their path to financial security.

And the economic impact of our At-lantic Avenue complex will flow wellbeyond its walls, benefiting Habitat

families, the neighboringcommunity and everybranch of the Big Apple tree,as a recent study shows.

In fact, every dollar investedin Habitat-NYC’s AtlanticAvenue complex will gener-ate $3 dollars in economicactivity over the next 40years—a hefty 300 percent return-on-investment for everyone who caresabout struggling families and our city.

Prepared pro bono by HR&A Advisors, a

Economic Impact Study Shows NYC Reaps 300% Return on Atlantic Avenue Homes

Before

After

Over 40 Years$34.5 million in economic activity$4.4 million in city taxes$13.9 million in spending

During Construction111 jobs

$2 million directly toOcean Hill-Brownsville

respected real estate and economic development consulting firm, this report is based on the project’s initial

In Rosalyn Jolly’s application letter to Habitat-NYC, she says, “Iwould love to have a bathroom without a huge hole in the ceiling.”Rosalyn is working hard to build a better future.

Continued on page 5

Habitat-NYCTimes

Summer 2008 � Vol. 25 No. 3

The Starr Foundation is extending its challenge grant to Aug.15!

Between now and the Aug. 15 deadline—every gift you make will give DOUBLE.

Give today, meet the Starr Foundation challenge and help build twice as manyhomes for New York families in need.

Just fill out the enclosed form or make a secure donation online at

111 John Street, 23rd Floor New York, NY 10038Tel: (212) 991-4000www.habitatnyc.org

Habitat for Humanity - New York Citytransforms lives and our city by uniting all New Yorkers around thecause of decent, affordable housingfor everyone.

Habitat-NYC Board of Directors

Over the next year, our extended Habitat-NYCfamily—volunteers, staff and homebuyers—willcontinue to spend a great deal of time in OceanHill-Brownsville, Brooklyn, working on our 41-unit, green condominium project in the neighbor-hood.

It’s a community with bustling faith institutions,hardworking small business owners and a di-

verse population of shifting demographics. A thriving Jewish enclave ageneration ago, Ocean Hill-Brownsville is now a melting pot of new andlongstanding Americans; the languages heard and cuisines sampled in2008 are a testament to the neighborhood’s diversity.

The median household income in the community is about $22,000, andfamilies are struggling desperately to make ends meet, juggling jobs, childcare and bill payments. With these challenges in mind, Habitat-NYC iscommitted to having an impact far beyond the walls of our current con-struction project on Atlantic Avenue and Eastern Parkway. Habitat-NYCvolunteers are not only helping to construct our new building, but havealso lent a hand in undertaking critically needed capital improvement proj-ects for local faith institutions, public housing projects and parks. Staff andvolunteers collected canned foods for a neighborhood food pantry andpainted a community mural that celebrates the spirit and potential of theneighborhood.

Beyond the labor we’re providing, Habitat-NYC volunteers and staff arespending their money in Ocean Hill-Brownsville. Thousands of Habitat-NYC volunteers are walking the streets of the neighborhood, buying cof-fee and lunch. Habitat-NYC purchases construction supplies fromhardworking local vendors, generating much-needed new business.

A recent economic and fiscal impact study found that during our two-yearconstruction period alone, $2 million will be funneled directly into OceanHill-Brownsville businesses, creating new jobs and supporting local smallbusiness owners and their families.

Most significantly, once our Habitat-NYC homeowners move into theirnew condominiums, they will be bringing new energy and vitality toOcean Hill-Brownsville. As new homeowners, they will be passionateabout their investment and their community. The combinedpurchasing power of Habitat-NYC homeowners will provide an en-during source of support to the bodega on the corner, the church acrossthe street and the hardware store down the block.

At Habitat-NYC, we’re proud and grateful to you for helping us tostrengthen the community of Ocean Hill-Brownsville. We are already see-ing the impact of our shared work in the physical condition of the neigh-borhood and in the eyes and hearts of ourwonderful community partners.

Founded by Millard and Linda Fuller in 1976, Habitat for Humanity is a Christian organization that welcomes people of all beliefs to join in its mission.

From the Executive Director

Les Bluestone, ChairThe Blue Sea Development Company

Claudia Machaver, Vice Chair

Rev. Mark Hallinan, Vice ChairSociety of Jesus (Jesuits), New York Province

Shauna Long, Vice Chair

John Kwon, TreasurerDeloitte Financial Advisory Services, LLP

Connie Sargent, Secretary

Jennifer Armstrong

David BachFinishRich Media

Neil BaderWells Fargo Home Mortgage

Evan BauerEvan Bauer Information Technology

Robert BurchA.W. Jones Company

Chris HoeffelJPMorgan Chase

Suzette Hunte

Karim HutsonGenesis Partners Real Property, LLC

Rabbi Bob KaplanNew York Center for Community & Coalition Building

Peter KnitzerCitibank NA

Christine McGuinnessSchiff Hardin LLP

Doug PaulCredit Suisse

Nia RockSovereign Bank

Ted SchweitzerTishman Speyer Properties

Andie SimonWarner Brothers Records

The Rev. Thomas SynanChurch of the Heavenly Rest

Julia TaylorPlatinum Caterers

Josh LockwoodEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Be Twice as Generous—andHelp Habitat-NYC Double Our Efforts

2

3

HPD Commissioner and Staff Help Raise the (Dry) Walls

New York City’s Lutherancommunity is giving theCastillo family a hand

up, helping them move from anemergency homeless shelter intoa permanent Habitat-NYC home.

Under the Thrivent Builds withHabitat for Humanity alliance,Thrivent Financial for Lutheransand local congregations are donating a total of $247,500 tohelp sponsor the Castillo family’s affordable condo inHabitat-NYC’s Atlantic Avenuecomplex. In addition to funds,hundreds of local Lutherans willhelp the family build their future home.

Thrivent funding includes a direct grantof $214,500, and local congregations arechallenged to raise $33,000 to help spon-sor the Castillo home. To make thematch, congregations can:

� Sign up a church team to build on-site;

� Organize a fundraiser and/or

donate funds to Habitat-NYC; or

� Join a Habitat-NYC Thrivent Build,where each volunteer raises $250.

Custodio and Cruz Castillo and theirthree children—Wendy, 17, Jessica, 20and Erickson—landed in a city shelterafter their home was condemned forstructural damage.

Despite the heavy emotional toll of this

housing crisis, Custodio contin-ued to work as an ambulettedriver and Cruz rarely missed aday as a home attendant. Jessicaand Erickson kept up with theircollege classes, and Wendyworked hard in high school soshe can fulfill her college aspira-tions. And since they were se-lected as Habitat-NYC familypartners, the Castillos can befound almost every weekendbuilding their home alongsideour volunteers.

As Jessica Castillo says, “We arenot just building the home. Weare building a family.”

Habitat-NYC Invites Lutheran Community to Build

Erickson, Wendy, and father Custodio Castillo all work together tobuild their new Habitat home.

The city’s Departmentof Housing Preserva-tion and Development

(HPD) is responsible for im-plementing the largest af-fordable housing plan in ournation’s history.

HPD Commissioner ShaunDonovan and his staff puttheir muscle where theagency’s money is by joiningHabitat-NYC for a day ofbuilding affordable Habitathomes on May 31.

Donovan, pictured at topleft, set the pace by workingnonstop installing drywall.Staff members are alsoshown here—working hardand enjoying their day onour site.

Photos by Larry Racioppoof HPD

Check the Events section of ourwebsite, www.habitatnyc.org,for information on specialLutheran community events oremail aolsen@habitatnyc.org.

$120,000 and up

AnonymousBank of AmericaBon Jovi EventCitigroupCredit Suisse Delta Air Lines, IncDepartment of Housing and

Urban DevelopmentGoldman, Sachs & CompanyHilb, Rogal & HamiltonNew York State Affordable

Housing CorporationNYC Department of Housing

Preservation & Develop-mentThe Starr FoundationThrivent Financial for

LutheransUnited Technologies

$60,000 - $119,999

The Clark FoundationDeutsche BankFinishRich MediaForest City Ratner CompaniesThe Horace W. Goldsmith

FoundationThe New York Community

TrustNew York State Energy

Research & Development Authority

Polo Ralph Lauren

$30,000 - $59,999

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

The George Link, Jr. Foundation, Inc.

PricewaterhouseCoopersRidgewood Savings BankThe Staten Island FoundationTrinity Church Wall Street

$15,000 - $29,999

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP

Archstone - SmithArup Services New York Ltd.The Bank of New York

MellonThe Beanstalk GroupBloombergCitiFoundationCollegiate Church Corpora-tionCross County Federal

Savings BankDeloitte Financial Advisory

Services LLPHachette Filapacchi MediaJPMorgan Chase & CompanyLaCrosse Global Fund

Services, LLCMellam Family FoundationMoody's Foundation

N.S. Bienstock Inc.NYSE EuronextThe Winifred & William

O'Reilly FoundationQuadrangle Group

Foundation, Inc.Rabobank InternationalRed Crane FoundationSovereign BankToyota Motor North

America, Inc.Travelers CompanyUnited Way of New York City

$5,000 - $14,999

Advent Software Inc.Alston & Bird LLPAmerican International

Group, Inc.The Anbinder FoundationBlack River Asset

Management LLCBrookfield Properties

CorporationBrown Brothers

Harriman & Co.Charles Spear Charitable

TrustChurch of the Heavenly RestCleary Gottlieb Steen &

Hamilton LLPThe Community Preservation

CorporationThe Concord Baptist Church

Of ChristCravath, Swaine & MooreDechert LLPDoubleday Broadway

Publishing GroupDuff & Phelps LLCFox News NetworksGenesis Partners Real

Property LLCHabitat for Humanity

InternationalHope For New York,

Redeemer Presbyterian Church

International Strategy & Investment Group

Investor Analytics LLCKemnay Advisory

Services LLCKirshenbaum Bond &

Partners, Inc.Korn/Ferry InternationalLamb & Barnosky, LLPLatham & WatkinsThe Laurence W. Levine

FoundationThe Litwin FoundationM&T Charitable FoundationMasterCard InternationalMayer Brown LLPThe McGraw-Hill CompaniesMizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.Mizuho Trust & Banking

Company (USA)Morgan StanleyNew York City Combined

Federal CampaignPark Avenue United

Methodist ChurchSeyfarth Shaw LLPSimpson Gumpertz &

Heger Inc.Skadden, Arps, Slate,

Meagher & Flom LLPSotheby's International

Realty, Inc.Surdna FoundationTurner Construction Co.US Bank NAVertical Design

Construction Corp.Warner Music Group Inc.Washington Mutual BankWDHB Consulting Group, Inc.Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.The Judith C. White

Foundation, IncWilliam Morris AgencyWillis North America Inc.Wilson Sonsini Goodrich

& RosatiYoung Men's/Women's Real

Estate Assoc.

$1,000 - $4,999

Financial Security Assurance (FSA)

First Queens Abstract Corporation

Goldman, Sachs & Co. Matching Gifts Program

Halstead Property Development

Harris Rand LuskThe Victor Herbert Founda-tionHome Abstract CorporationJacob Bluestein FoundationRobert D. and Phyllis A.

Jaffee Family FoundationThe James A. MacDonald

FoundationThe Jewish Communal FundThe John J. McHugh

Foundation

The JP Morgan Chase Foundation Matching Gifts Program

KOW Building ConsultantsThe Kreilick Family

Foundation, Inc.Lehman Brothers Inc.,

Matching GiftsLippincottLocal Initiatives Support

Corp. (LISC)Maison Gerard Ltd.Marsh & McLennan Maxx PropertiesMerck Partnership for GivingMeredith CorporationMerrill LynchMetropolitan Valuation

ServicesMonadnock ConstructionMoody's Foundation

Matching Gifts ProgramMorgan Stanley Matching

GiftsNYC Assoc. of Hotel

ConciergesP.S. 289 - G.V. Brower Park

SchoolPfizer Foundation Matching

Gift ProgramPrestige Employee

AdministrationPrudential Foundation

Matching GiftsJames E. Robison

Foundation, Inc.Room & BoardRutgers Presbyterian ChurchSafra National Bank of New

YorkSociety of Jesus, New York

ProvinceSt. Bartholomew's ChurchStempel Bennett Claman &

HochbergSuperseal Manufacturing Co.Thrivent Financial for

Lutherans, Kings County Chapter

Tiger Baron FoundationTK FoundationVanderbilt Appraisal Com-

CORPORATE, FOUNDATION, GOVERNMENT AND FAITH CONTRIBUTIONS

4

May 1, 2007 - June 31, 2008

Habitat-NYC’s monthly e-newsletter will keep youup-to-date on what’s happening on our constructionsites, alert you to events and provide insight on affordable housing issues.

Sign up today.

Go to www.habitatnyc.org and click on the e-news

Sign Up for E-News

And Get the Scoop on Habitat-NYC

5

Despite the decade she has devoted to herjob, Rosalyn says her salary has remainedstagnant. “Everything else around me isincreasing. I’m always dreaming of own-ing my own home, and with a little assis-tance, I know I can do it formyself and my daughter.

“The prices for homes areuntouchable for anyone atmy salary,” Rosalyn says.

She adds, “My daughter is14, and in 30 years, thishome will be hers. It’ssomething I can leave her.”

Rosalyn and her daughterTamara are eager to movefrom their tiny one-bed-room apartment in Bushwick, Brooklyn,which is not much larger than a studio.The apartment is so small that motherand daughter share a bunk bed and

“privacy” is an elusive concept.

Their home is poorly insulated—some ofthe insulation is even exposed by hugeholes in the walls—and is bitterly cold inthe winter. Worse, the bathroom ceiling

leaks so much thatRosalyn and Tamarasometimes have toopen an umbrella tokeep from gettingsoaked.

Rosalyn says she wasoverjoyed to learn thatshe was accepted as aHabitat-NYC home-owner. “I will finallybe able to own a piece

of the Big Apple,” she smiles.

Rosalyn JollyContinued from page 1

‘I’m always dreamingof owning my ownhome, and with a littleassistance, I know Ican do it for myselfand my daughter.’

-Rosalyn Jolly

Economic Report

construction costs, estimated at $12.1 mil-lion (which have since climbed to morethan $13 million).

Key findings reveal the fiscal seeds sown bythis project will:

� Reap $34.5 million in economic activ-ity over the next four decades;

� Grow approximately $3 for every dol-lar invested, for more than a 300 percentreturn on project investment by Habitat-NYC and our supporters;

� Support 111 jobs and create $20.45million in economic activity during thetwo-year construction phase alone;

� Funnel $2 million of that $20.45 mil-lion directly to businesses in Ocean Hill-Brownsville, strengthening the economy ofone of the city’s lowest-income neighbor-hoods.

Over the next 40 years, this project and itsnew 41 homeowner families will:

�Spend $13.9 million in New York City;� Contribute more than $4.4 million in

city tax revenues.

“We know that investing in affordablehousing provides hardworking, low-in-come families with desperately neededhomes,” says Josh Lockwood, Habitat-NYC’s Executive Director. “But we alsoknow that affordable housing developmentspurs economic development.”

Lockwood noted that the project’s tax rev-enues alone would offset public contribu-tions made by the state’s Housing FinanceAgency and Division of Housing andCommunity Renewal, the city’s Depart-ment of Housing Preservation and Devel-opment and the Brooklyn BoroughPresident’s Office.

“What made this economic and fiscal im-pact analysis so compelling was valuing thecombined contributions of Habitat-NYCand the thousands of volunteers who arebuilding the Atlantic Avenue project,” saysEric Rothman, President of HR&A.

While these Habitat-NYC homes offergreat economic promise for the city, theirmost important return-on-investment isthe impact on the families who will callthem “home.”

AmeriCorps Staff Paint the Town Green

It was “all hands on deck” (or rather,“on wall”) recently when dozens ofkids from Ocean Hill-Brownsville,

Brooklyn, covered their hands with green,purple and orange paint to help Habitat-NYC’s AmeriCorps members decorate amural at Callahan Kelly Park near our Atlantic Avenue homes.

“We wanted to leavea long-lasting contri-bution to the areawhere Habitat-NYCbuilds and generatecommunity involve-ment,” said Ameri-Corps memberChelsea Clark.

The mural was thebrainchild of theeight AmeriCorps members who dedicatedthe past year to building with Habitat-NYC and leading teams of volunteers onour construction site. The group decidedto create a mural that promotes the idea of“living green,” one of the initiatives Habitat-NYC pursues as we build afford-able homes.

To launch their community service project,AmeriCorps members gave educational“living green” presentations to children atTrue Holy Church and to sixth and seventh graders at a neighborhood public

school. They offered tips for green livingand recycling and strategies to preserve theenvironment in their daily lives. At theend of the session, children created draw-ings re-flectingtheirideasabout

takingcare ofthe envi-ronment.

Aspects of the kids’ drawings were com-bined to create the final mural design.Once approved by the Partnership for theParks Department, everyone gathered topaint the sprawling mural of a thriving cityon top of a tree, surrounded by the handsand names of all the participants.

Continued from page 1

Photos by Chelsea Clark

Women Build: ‘Women Helping Women Makes This Special’

6

“I’m helping out because I believe safe, affordable housing is acornerstone for a stable life.”

—Barbara Pryor

“Women Build, in particular,empowers women to do thingsthat are not usually consideredto be in their skill set.”

—Melanie Richardson-Severo

“I enjoy volunteering and giving back to the community, and I believethat women helping women makes this project even more special.”

—Shana Carrico

“Hopefully more projects like these will give women the opportunity tosee for themselves that they too can contribute to a building project andthus change the status quo.”

—Fredeswilda Maraj

“That [positive] feeling, I believe, comes from participating in a day inwhich I can make a concrete (pardon the pun) contribution to the afford-able housing crisis facing the city, and having a chance to work side-by-side with other women who are directly benefiting from one of Habitat'ssolutions to the problem.”

—Dara Emru

Habitat-NYC Welcomes New Board Members

“It is a reminder of the birth ofthe modern woman's desire andability to overcome mass stereo-types of certain job types. Plus,it will be a fun day to get toknow 34 other women.”

—Nik Tan

Habitat-NYC is pleased to welcomePeter Knitzer and Christine A.McGuinness to our Board of

Directors.

Peter Knitzer, acting Chairman and CEOof Citibank North America, brings finan-cial, marketing and management savvy toHabitat-NYC. Knitzer also directs Citi’sCommercial Business Group and serveson Citigroup’s Management Committeeand Global, Consumer Planning Group.Knitzer’s previous notable leadershiproles within Citibank include Head ofCustomer Franchise Management andExecutive Vice President of Citi Cards. Hehas also worked for Chase Manhattan

Bank, American Express and NabiscoBrands, Inc., where he was in charge ofbrand marketing.

Christine A. McGuinness is a Partner inthe law firm of Schiff Hardin LLP. In trueHabitat spirit, she utilizes her legal ex-pertise to help finance low-income hous-ing and day care centers. McGuinnessrepresents the Leviticus Fund in this en-deavor and has also represented theWomen’s Sports Foundation. Her practiceincorporates real estate and corporate fi-nance within the context of equity anddebt financing.

JPMorgan will be honored for its long-time commitment to affordable hous-ing when Habitat-NYC holds its festive9th Annual Builder Awards gala onNov. 11.

This year’s celebration will be held atthe elegant Capitale in Lower Manhat-tan, with cocktails at 6:30 pm and din-ner at 7:30 pm.

For more information or tickets, pleasecontact Thomas Martin at (212) 972-2268 or e-mail tkts@habitatnyc.org.

Save the Date:

9th Annual Builder AwardsSet for Nov. 11

Thirty-five women volunteers from all walks of life came together this spring for Habitat-NYC’s annual WomenBuild. These enthusiastic, hardworking all-women crews not only raised the interior walls of our Atlantic Avenuecomplex—they also raised $14,000 to help cover the cost of constructing these 41 affordable homes. Here’s whatsome of them had to say about Women Build:

Photos by Deb Schwartz