Outbreak response
Updated 4/6/20
Your health, the health of our team, the health of our partner families, and the health of our community — that is our priority. We believe now is the time to take protective and sensible steps to watch out for each other. Together, we can help “flatten the curve” to avoid overwhelming our health care system, so everyone can receive the care they need.
Here's the plan:
We are suspending all volunteer activities across sites until further notice. This includes our office, construction sites and ReStore.
Construction continues on our build site. Please consider making a donation now to keep us building. Our work is critical to building resilience in our communities and will be necessary to help local families and neighborhoods absorb the shock waves of this pandemic.
UPDATE 3/20: The ReStore will be closed until further notice, as mandated by New York State. We have temporarily suspended donation drop-offs and pick-ups as well, in order to do our part to keep our community safe. Follow the ReStore on Facebook for updates.
Our office will be closed to walk-ins. Email will be the quickest way to reach our team, who may be working from home. Our secure drop box at 207 Sheridan Avenue will be open to receive mail, mortgage payments or other documents.
We have cancelled or postponed all in-person meetings through April, and are encouraging the use of phone and video conferencing.
Sweat equity activities are suspended for homebuyers, and we have assured our families that this will not affect their partnership or ability to purchase their homes.
All Habitat employees, including our part-time staff, have access to paid sick leave.*
We will post updates regarding Habitat activities here and on our social media. In the meantime, remember this is an opportunity to pull together as a community—reach out to your neighbors and look out for each other. Remember to smile, laugh and be kind. Use social media to connect and share resources like official information, canned food or extra toilet paper. We are all in this together.
We are looking forward to the spring and summer. Seven homes are under construction in Sheridan Hollow, as well as one rebuild and one renovation under way in the South End, and plenty more in development for the future. We plan to make more progress on the 12th ward WWII Veterans Memorial Park and rain garden, a partnership between Habitat, the Community Development Alliance and the Sheridan Hollow Neighborhood Association.
If you aren’t already, subscribe to our email list to stay in the loop about Habitat happenings.
*Paid sick leave is a public health and social justice issue we have supported for a while now. If you want to know more about why we support paid sick leave as an affordable housing organization, click here to read the letter we sent to the Albany County Legislature in 2018.
Other thoughts:
Click here to read a radical reframing of COVID-19 from Instagram (@ecowithem_)
Flattening the curve? How about cattening the curve! (Twitter, @amadar1ing)
Need a new reading list? Check out Curbed.com’s Must-read books about cities written by women.
Complete the census online. A complete and accurate count helps our community get the resources we need for housing, education, health, jobs and more! You likely received your invitation and code through the mail this week.
Take virtual tours of 12 museums around the world.
If you find yourself at home, it’s a great time to read a new book, practice mindfulness, learn a new hobby, and practice the lost art of rest! Look up pictures of nature — or sow some flower seeds in a sunny spot in your home.
Preparing for coronavirus isn’t about shutting yourself in—it’s about reaching out - Curbed.com
Consider making a donation of extra supplies or—most effectively—a cash donation (made online!) to your local food pantry or shelter to help families who do not have the resources to stockpiles necessities or who may be faced with economic hardship during this time.
