Washington, DC - Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced that he has secured the House Appropriations Committee's approval of $395,000 for two community programs in Newburgh.  Hinchey worked to secure $185,000 for the Community and Police Partnering Against Violence program and $210,000 for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh as part of the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2009.  While the measure still has several legislative steps to go, having the funds included in the original version of the bill is considered a critical step in the process.  The funds may also face a challenge from President Bush who has said he opposes the inclusion of funding for such projects.

"These programs will help the City of Newburgh in its efforts to combat violent crime by providing the police department with new resources to build relationships with members of the community and also provide important training for at-risk youth that will enable them to acquire job skills and GEDs that they will use to find employment opportunities with decent wages and expanded opportunities," Hinchey said.  "Community relations officers will help the police department learn how to approach problems differently and develop strategies to best address issues relating to crime and safety.  Additionally, the young at-risk youth will benefit greatly from the presence and implementation of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh, which will provide job skill development and a sense of accomplishment for our young people."   

The Community and Police Partnering Against Violence program will use the funds Hinchey secured to support the activities of two community relations officers who will work within the police department to integrate community-policing philosophies which value working with the community to develop solutions to problems.  They will also hold neighborhood watch meetings, document concerns and problems within neighborhoods and create crime prevention and safety awareness materials for public use.  The funds will also support the need to enhance a predominately response-oriented department to one that utilizes partnerships within the community to approach problems in order to creatively and collaboratively tailor how the city addresses issues relating to crime and safety. 

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh will use the funds Hinchey obtained to implement a pilot program to train young people, aged 17-24 in construction skills with goals of demonstrated skill development aimed at future employment, completion of the GED high school equivalency program, and rehabilitation of three transitional housing units for very-low income families in a program design based on the HUD Youth Build program. This program will expand the supply of affordable housing for low-income families by utilizing the skills of disadvantaged youth.