The Rev. Dr. Paul Alcorn, pastor of Bedford Presbyterian Church, is working together with Jim Killoran, executive director of Westchester Habitat for Humanity, to bring affordable housing for low income people to northern Westchester.

Mr. Alcorn and Mr. Killoran have held several meetings since mid-September with an ad hoc committee of clergy and housing officials from across the region to try to engender support for Habitat for Humanity projects in local communities.

This weekend, today through Sunday, Nov. 17 to 19, has been dubbed "Affordable Housing Weekend," during which the subject will be brought up from the pulpit in at least 10 area congregations, Mr. Alcorn said.. And on Sunday, a home renovated by Habitat volunteers will be dedicated in Greenburgh at 77 Riverdale Avenue.

Habitat for Humanity of Westchester has for several years successfully created home ownership for low-income people down-county. Habitat homes have been built or renovated in Greenburgh, Ossining, Yonkers, White Plains and Mount Vernon.

"Regularly during the week and on weekends, volunteers including high school, church and corporate groups bring their skills to help families have a simple, decent home," Mr. Alcorn said. .

Cost to build home

"It costs about $75,000 per house to help a family move into a home where their mortgage, including taxes, is less than the rent for an average one-bedroom apartment in this county," Mr. Alcorn said.

Mr. Killoran said that there were  more than 80,000 people in Westchester County living in poverty and without adequate housing. Recognizing this, he and Mr. Alcorn called together a group of area churches and temples to take action.

"The need is real and growing," said Mr. Alcorn. "We improve our communities for everyone by addressing this need thoughtfully and proactively."

"We are excited by the northern Westchester congregations Joining together as one team to speak about Habitat and the critical need for affordable housing," Mr. Killoran said. "Religious leaders throughout the county are joining to share in this vital message about the real need for housing and Habitat's mission."

Donations requested

What the group is looking for are interested citizens to participate in the planning and construction of Habitat housing projects. It is also looking for donations, houses that can be rehabilitated and land for home sites.

Mr. Killoran said that a $500 donation would buy a kitchen sink and plumbing fixtures and $1,000 would be enough to shingle a whole roof.

"There are so many youth groups willing to work on homes that right now there are not enough construction sites available," he said. "Let's funnel that energy into new homes in this area. But finding sites is a real problem, as land comes at high cost."

Mr. Killoran said that in its 24 years of existence, Habitat for Humanity had built 100,000 homes and plans to build another 100,000 homes nationwide in the next five years.

"Westchester County is the toughest place to build affordable housing," Mr. Killoran said. He also claimed the county had the highest homeless rate per capita in New York state.

Committee members

The committee's strategy development group includes Mr. Killoran; the Rev. Terence Elsberry, rector of St. Matthew's Church in Bedford; the Rev. Frank Denton, pastor of Pound Ridge Community Church; Rabbi David Greenberg of Temple Shaaray Tefila in Bedford Corners; Don Heringa, chaplain of Northern Westchester Hospital Center in Mount Kisco; and William Brady of the Westchester County Department of Planning, as well as Linda Fried, co-chair of the mission committee of Bedford Presbyterian Church, and Christa Kuusisto, administrative assistant of the church.

Other participants on the committee include the Rev. Sharon Miller, pastor of United Methodist Church in Mount Kisco; the Rev. Jack Horner, pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, also in Mount Kisco; and Eleanor Hibben of the Yorktown Community Housing Board.