LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. — Siena College here is sponsoring a Habitat for Humanity house for a low-income family in nearby Albany. The house will be called Siena House.
In January, the Capital District of Habitat for Humanity, the Christian house-building charity, held a ribbon-cutting at the North Pearl Street building location, signifying that the funding had been obtained and construction will begin this spring.
“Siena’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity reflects our Franciscan mission to educate our students to become responsible leaders in their communities and to use their many talents to serve those in need,” said Siena president Kevin Mullen, OFM. “We consider this is an especially important project, because it gives us another opportunity to help make a difference in the Capital Region.”
The $35,000 funding came from the Siena College Habitat Club and the Franciscan Center, along with the Prime Companies. Siena’s $17,500 donation was raised by the college in a 2008 campaign, and matched by Prime Companies.
Besides being Siena’s first Habitat house, the home will be the first one built entirely with structurally-insulated panels. These consist of insulated foam pressed and glued between two outer layers of strand-board. These panels are easier for Habitat volunteers to handle, and are more energy efficient than traditional construction.
The ground-breaking is set for March, said Judy Dougherty, assistant director of Siena’s Franciscan Center for Service and Advocacy (FSCA), adding that “it has long been a dream of mine for Siena to sponsor a Habitat for Humanity project.”
Shown in the photo above are, from left, Kevin Mullen with Steve Haggerty, executive director, Capital District Habitat for Humanity, and Albany Mayor Gerry Jennings.