Seeing Double (Twice)

May 15, 2023

National “Property Brothers” Twins Partner with Analogous Rochester Twins on Custom Project for Habitat’s First JOSANA Neighborhood House

Rochester, NY—Thanks to Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity (GRHH) and Habitat for Humanity® International, a very special partnership has taken place with acclaimed HGTV twins Drew and Jonathan Scott (The Property Brothers) and their analogous Rochester twins Edwin and Erwin Mageary, longtime Habitat Construction Site Supervisors (25 and 30 years, respectively).


The project is a pair of customized flower boxes signed by both sets of twins for Lissette F’s home, the very first of the 100 houses built in the JOSANA neighborhood by Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity. 


“The JOSANA neighborhood is just one of many examples of Habitat’s commitment to building a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live,” said Matt Flanagan, GRHH president and CEO. “We are elated that Drew and Jonathan (Scott) understood the importance of this project and stepped right up with our own Mageary brothers to continue making a difference in the lives of our Rochester residents.”


Follow this link https://youtu.be/jVT010ejWfU for the video of identical twin brothers and long-standing Greater Rochester Habitat Construction Site Supervisors Edwin and Erwin Mageary installing the window boxes at Lissette’s house. Drew and Jonathan Scott added a bit of flair with an engraved note of encouragement. 


Twenty-five years ago, Rochester’s historic Jay-Orchard Street neighborhood was broken by violence and crime, pervasive poverty, vacant lots and abandoned homes. The tragic shooting death in 2001 of 10-year-old Tyshaun Cauldwell drove the City of Rochester, its residents and social service organizations to make a change. The result was the formation of the Jay Orchard Street Area Neighborhood Association (JOSANA) to transform the community’s grief into multigenerational investment and opportunity.


In 2011, Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity committed to building 100 new homes in the JOSANA neighborhood within a half mile of Enrico Fermi School No. 17—where Tyshaun attended middle school. GRHH fulfilled that promise in early 2022 with the completion of the 100th home. GRHH has now begun conducting home repairs in the JOSANA neighborhood and has already begun revitalization projects in the nearby EMMA & Beechwood neighborhoods.


NOTE: Local interviews and photos are available on request.


About Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity:

Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity is a non-denominational Christian housing ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard housing in Monroe, Ontario, and Wayne Counties. With a combined 100-plus years of service, the Flower City, Ontario, and Wayne County affiliates merged in 2023 to create a stronger organization to assist families and a stronger voice to advocate for affordable housing solutions in the state. Since 1984, Greater Rochester Habitat and its volunteers have served more than 425 families with new homes, much-needed home repairs, and financial education. These Homebuyer families have put in 300+ hours of sweat-equity to earn and then purchase their home through an affordable 30-year mortgage. Greater Rochester Habitat has offices in Rochester, Canandaigua, and Newark and operates ReStores in Rochester and Canandaigua. For more information, visit www.GRHabitat.org

Bright Spot: Rochester Woman Build team breaks ground on 20th Women Build House

08 Mar, 2024
Rochester, N.Y. — Our Bright Spot shines on Habitat for Humanity's Women Build. It's International Women's Day, and on Friday, the Rochester Woman Build team broke ground on their 20th 'Women Build' House.

New home brings new beginning for Rochester family through Habitat For Humanity

23 Feb, 2024
It’s a new beginning for a single mother in Rochester, as she moves her family into their new home thanks to Greater Rochester Habitat For Humanity. Shuane Williams has taken personal loss as an opportunity to give back. In 2013, she lost her son to gun violence. “It was the most senseless thing to happen to our family, and I think that if you stay in the community and you see things happen, you can’t stay angry. So, what do you do, right?” said Williams. She decided to create a youth advocacy program to give Rochester kids support and a voice. “It was something we started for our children to be able to advocate for themselves. We wanted children to be able to stand up on their own and be able to speak about things going on with them. We find out they speak to themselves more than they speak to us,” she said. Williams and her daughters will soon move into the new home in the Beechwood neighborhood, with the help of Habitat For Humanity. She is the first homebuyer in her family, and also had a hand in construction, putting in 300 hours of work toward the build. “This is a dream come true for me. I’ve literally been trying to do this since my son passed away. Not only did Habitat nail it, they gave me exactly what I wanted,” said Williams. “There’s something really solid about an owner-occupant who moves into a neighborhood, puts their stake down and says, ‘I’m going to take care of this neighborhood because this is where I live.’ They’re more likely to look out the window and say what needs to be fixed versus turning the other way and wondering when something’s going to happen,” said Matt Flanigan, president and CEO of Greater Rochester Habitat For Humanity. Williams says she didn’t turn away from the city after the loss of her son. She reflects on the decision to stay as this new chapter begins. “So many people run away from the violence in this community. So many people go, ‘Oh, well this should happen, and we should do this.’ Then, they move out. So, how are you helping your community if you’re not here? In order to help your community, you have to stay inside your community. So, it’s very important for me to stay here in the city of Rochester,” said Williams. This home build is the second of 2024 for Habitat For Humanity. It was also made possible through a partnership with Avangrid and RG&E as well as Bank of America. Original Article: https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/new-home-brings-new-beginning-for-rochester-family-through-habitat-for-humanity/

'It feels like a dream come true': Local family celebrates new women-built home from Habitat for Humanity

10 Jan, 2024
Rochester, N.Y. - A Rochester family is earning a fresh start with a new home in the city. The Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity dedicated the home on Friday at a celebration with the homeowner, Angelica Pagan, and her two sons. "It feels good," said Dereck Beltran, Pagan's son. "It feels like a dream come true because first, I wanted to have a new room so that's good that we're going to have one in a couple weeks." An all-women team of more than 100 builders constructed the house as part of the women build program. Pagan also put in 200 hours toward building her home. "I am so delighted to be here to dedicate the nineteenth women-build house that has been built in Rochester and I'm very glad that it's going to you Angelica," said Pam Bradley, chair of the steering committee for the Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity. "They do all the fundraising and then they do all the building and you’ll hear their phrases like ‘give a woman a power tool and she’ll change the world,'" said Matt Flanigan, the president and CEO of the organization. "Well behind me is a living example of just that." Pagan fled Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. She is now the first person in her family to buy a home, which was a major goal of hers. "Thank you for Rochester Habitat for giving me this great opportunity to be able to provide my children with a safe home, but above all, achieve a dream," said Beltran as he read a letter written by his mother. "Something that I saw far away, but never impossible." Pagan hopes her home remains a reminder that it's never too late to follow your dreams. "She said, basically, never stop dreaming and always chase your dreams," said Beltran on behalf of his mother.  Original Article: https://13wham.com/news/local/it-feels-like-a-dream-come-true-local-family-celebrates-new-women-built-home-from-habitat-for-humanity
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