“This funding is critical to our strategy of high-impact development and paves the way to eliminating some of the worst, nagging eyesores in Orange,” said Patrick Morrissy, the organization’s founder and executive director. HANDS is committed to the revitalization of neighborhoods in Orange and East Orange by redeveloping troubled properties and turning them into affordable housing. It was founded in 1986 by a group of clergy and community leaders. For its latest endeavor, HANDS was able to receive a $625,000 grant and $900,000 loan under the Urban Homeownership Recovery Program of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency.

Obtaining those funds to rehabilitate existing homes at scattered locations was a challenge, said Morrissy,because the program is geared to developments of 10-40 homes on one site. Another $900,000 loan came from the Philadelphia-based Reinvestment Fund, which is also the lead lender for the project. “Everyone acknowledges the negative effect of these vacant problem properties,” said Morrissy. “They suck the life out of neighborhoods, driving down property values and robbing people of hope that their neighborhoods will be livable.”