Habitat for Humanity outlines starter‑home pipeline as Ulster County prices surge

Habitat for Humanity’s Ulster affiliate presented to the Ulster County Legislature Housing & Transportation Committee on Aug. 6, describing a local push to build starter homes for workers priced out of the market.

Executive Director Christine Brady Lavelle said the affiliate is marking its 30th anniversary and emphasized the widening affordability gap: “Our median sale price is $445,000 right now,” she said, adding that area prices have jumped roughly 88.9% since 2021. Lavelle told lawmakers Habitat focuses on smaller infill lots near municipal services and that partner families qualify by need, the ability to afford a mortgage set at 30% of household income, and a willingness to provide sweat equity.

Lavelle described the typical capital stack for a Habitat house and the shortfall the organization fills with fundraising and grants: “It costs us about 500,000 to build a house, so huge gap,” she said. She cited completed and upcoming houses in Saugerties, Kingston and Port Ewen and noted Habitat’s work with Ulster BOCES and the Mound Academy on modular construction and electrical training.

The affiliate outlined long resale restrictions that vary by grant — from multi‑decade terms when state grants are used to shorter periods for other funding — and asked county members to help identify municipally serviced small lots and to advocate for stable funding. Chair Clinton thanked the presenter and opened a brief question-and-answer period in which members asked about site selection, resale caps and how the county’s price growth compares with national averages. Lavelle offered to follow up with a national comparison figure.