Westchester Habitat to Build 100 Homes in Haiti

After a four-day mission trip to Haiti, Jim Killoran, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Westchester, is back at work in New Rochelle. He has committed to build 100 homes in Haiti.

Because of a long-term partnership with the Habitat for Humanity director in Haiti, Killoran was invited to travel to the Caribbean country in December of last year. Little did he know he'd be there in January in response to a devastating earthquake that would kill hundreds of thousands and leave millions homeless.

In Haiti, Killoran met with Habitat staff there to discuss a long-term building project.

"Prior to the earthquake, Habitat of Haiti had built more than 2,000 homes; it needs to build 20,000 homes now," Killoran said.

Killoran traveled with Pastor Pierre and Emmanuelle Ceyeus, both of New Rochelle. Together, they distributed medicines and helped to examine the rubble. They also visited existing Habitat homes that "stood strong," and worked with the injured in tents outside of Hopitale Generale in Port-au-Prince, he said.

Upon his return, Killoran met with the Lanza Family Foundation, which gave a $100,000 challenge grant to Habitat's "100 Homes for Haiti" project. Each home costs approximately $3,500, Killoran said.

"The decentralization of Haiti will see a new Haiti, with people moving back to towns and most likely the economies of those towns growing due to reconstruction and relief," said Killoran.

To make a donation toward the homes, go to www.habitatwc.org or e-mail Haiti@habitatwc.org. Habitat for Humanity of Westchester will continue its collaboration with Habitat Haiti to work on long-term home building.