Citi Volunteers Rebuild Brentwood Home For Habitat Family

Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk and Citi volunteer employees begin first of three home renovations in partnership with Town of Islip’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program in Brentwood

(Brentwood, NY) – A working partnership between Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk, HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), The Town of Islip and several private funding sources have made it possible to renovate three homes in Islip for hard working low-income families. On June 16, volunteers from Citi and Habitat joined future homeowners Alix and Toni Harris in restoring the home at 48 Bruce Lane, Brentwood.

In 2008 The Town of Islip was awarded $3.7 million from HUD’s NSP I funding. Habitat Suffolk was brought in as a program partner to help develop affordable home ownership opportunities for families earning less than 50% of area medium income. Approximately $400,000 was granted to Habitat Suffolk to purchase three properties, including the one on Bruce Lane. Habitat Suffolk has brought in private sponsorship funds to completely renovate each home.

The Harris home renovation is being sponsored with funds and volunteers from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Citi. This is the ninth Habitat Suffolk project that Thrivent Builds has supported and the 12th Habitat Suffolk home sponsored by Citi. Alix and Toni and their children Benjamin (2) and Catherine (8 months) will live in the fully restored three bedroom home. Harris works locally for a global media company as a masters control operator and Toni is a stay-at-home mom.

Citi, a long-time Habitat Suffolk sponsor, has also contributed funds for this project and representatives from the company will assist throughout the renovation process. “Citi is proud to partner with Habitat here in Suffolk County. This is an important program and our volunteer employees are ready to help,” said Pat Edwards, Citi, V.P. Community Development for Long Island.

Caption : left to right: Flanking the volunteers from Citi are Alix and Toni Harris y (far left seated) and (far right) Paul Fink, Executive Director, Islip Community Development Agency and Pat Edwards, Citi, V.P. Community Development for Long Island.

Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk is a nonprofit Christian housing ministry dedicated to building decent, affordable housing in partnership with low-income working families in Suffolk County. Since 1987, Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk has helped to house 148 families. For more information, visit www.habitatsuffolk.org.