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Monies Will Be Used To Address Maintenance Issues at Newly Opened Homes For United States War Veterans
“This is sacred land — and we wanted to provide homes as a tribute to every person who put on a uniform,” said John Murphy, the visionary behind Rockland Homes for Heroes, built on the former Camp Shanks site.
Murphy uttered these words on a recent egg-robin blue, late summer day while receiving a $10,000 donation raised by agents from Howard Hanna/Rand Realty, Rand Commercial and Hudson United Insurance Services.
Video Courtesy of Joe Beckerle, Beckerle Productions
Rockland Homes for Heroes (RH4H) is a $6 million housing project, spearheaded by the now 89-year Murphy, who founded the nonprofit with the objective to eliminate veteran homelessness in the Mid-Hudson Counties of Rockland, Orange, Sullivan, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester.
In November of 2013, RH4H opened eight housing units at 335 Western Highway in the hamlet of Tappan. In July, Governor Kathy Hochul attended a ribbon cutting, which marked the completion of Phase II, bringing the total to 22 apartments.
“We don’t believe that it’s decent or American for a veteran to live on the sidewalk,” said Murphy.
Attending the donation ceremony, Matt Rand of Howard Hanna/Rand Realty said, “We’re really proud that our agents raised money to support the Homes for Hero project, which is really a miraculous project.”
Board members said the monies would be used to address roof and other maintenance issues in some of the new units.
