United Way's YouthBuild Partners with Town of Islip & Private Sector to Construct Next Generation Green & Affordable Homes
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United Way's YouthBuild Partners with Town of Islip & Private Sector to Construct Next Generation Green & Affordable Homes
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United Way’s YouthBuild Long Island program has partnered with the Town of Islip to construct two new green affordable homes in Brentwood using highly efficient designs by Fusion Architecture and materials manufactured by OceanSafe. Students from YouthBuild Long Island will learn next generation construction skills and work alongside professionals from J. Barrows Inc., to assist in the construction of these innovative homes, which will be located at 209 Clark Street and 47 Patton Street in Brentwood. See all the photos!
The Patton Street home is currently underway, and the Clark Street project broke ground on November 1. Once completed, the homes will become part of the Town of Islip’s affordable housing lottery, where qualified residents can win the opportunity to purchase the homes at a below-market value price.
“These homes exemplify fiscally responsible green building,” said Rick Wertheim, United Way’s Senior Vice President of Housing and Green Initiatives. “This effort proves that affordability and sustainability can be combined to achieve truly attainable housing. The YouthBuild students participating in this project will gain experience that will bolster their careers and transform their communities.”
YouthBuild Long Island is a free youth and community-development program and alternative school, which addresses core issues facing low-income communities. A strong focus is placed on green-industry job opportunities in energy efficiency, renewables, weatherization, energy star construction and home performance.
“These events are not just about dedicating a house… They are about commemorating our efforts to provide job training and affordable housing to future generations of Islip families,” said Town of Islip Supervisor Phil Nolan. “The fact that this home is also a model for environmental consciousness makes this project a win-win.”
“YouthBuild Long Island is preparing the next generation for success in green careers. I’ve been proud to work with YouthBuild for several years and even more proud to say a YouthBuild graduate worked for me in my Hauppauge office,” said U.S. Congressman Steve Israel. “I commend YouthBuild and the Town of Islip for their innovative partnership that will not only help the students gain skills, but also help get families into new affordable energy homes.”
YouthBuild Long Island has received federal funding, including a 2009 $1 million appropriation secured by Representative Israel, and $1.1 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
“Green building on Long Island must be seen as a necessity and no longer as a luxury,” said LIPA Vice President of Environmental Affairs Michael J. Deering. “Smart innovative projects like this one led by United Way’s YouthBuild Long Island program will serve as an invaluable educational tool to promote the construction of energy efficient homes in our communities, which is paramount to Long Island’s future.”
“This project represents a completely new way to think about how housing and attainable housing can be delivered. The process incorporates innovative design concepts that reduce product waste and maximize energy-efficiency. The Brentwood project shows how green construction methods can be cost-effective in the short-term and produce substantial positive impacts in the long-term,” said Building and Construction Advisor John Barrows of J. Barrows, Inc.
Materials used to construct these homes include OceanSafe’s innovative and highly energy-efficient Steel Structural Insulated Panels (SSIP). Construction materials are lightweight easy to use and also offer an unmatched strength-to-weight ratio. YouthBuild students working on this project will learn how to build with these new green materials and gain important and marketable skills and knowledge.
Supported by the Town of Islip’s Community Development Agency, partnering organizations on this project include JP Morgan Chase & Co., Fusion Architecture, National Grid, LIPA, Citizens Bank, Citi, MSC Industrial Direct, Apollo HVAC and Lennox.
For more information about YouthBuild Long Island, go to www.unitedwayli.org/youthbuild or call (631) 940-8841. Information about the Town of Islip’s housing lottery can be found at www.islipcda.org.
PHOTO ID: Rob Fusco & Joe Basilice, OceanSafe, LLC; Michael J. Deering, LIPA; Town of Islip Supervisor Phil Nolan; Town of Islip Councilman Steven J. Flotteron; Theresa A. Regnante & Rick Wertheim, United Way of Long Island; Robert Allgor, National Grid; and Elizabeth Morgan, United Way of Long Island’s YouthBuild.
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