Habitat NYC and Westchester’s Board of Directors is comprised of professionals, public servants and philanthropists who dedicate their time, expertise and resources to help us build and preserve safe, healthy and affordable homes for hard-working New York families. Their guidance allows our organization to remain nimble, focused, and, most of all, effective in our vital work.

Over the past six years, Doug Morse has served as the Chair of the Board, overseeing the organization through incredible and accelerating change. Doug, his wife Claudia, and the entire Morse family have impacted thousands of lives in New York City and Westchester County. As Doug’s term limit as Board Chair comes to a close, we would like to take a moment to recognize his tremendous generosity and influence.

Doug and Claudia Morse at the 2014 Habitat NYC and Westchester gala.

 

Doug joined Habitat NYC and Westchester’s Board of Directors in August 2014 and became Chair in July 2015. Doug and Claudia are some of our most impactful donors, with nearly a decade of generosity towards our Habitat NYC and Westchester families. Doug and Claudia have shared Habitat NYC and Westchester’s work with their friends and family, inspiring others to become part of our mission!

Since 2015, Doug has been the Program Ambassador for Habitat NYC and Westchester’s team in the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, leading the charge in recruiting his friends and family and in turning the program into what it is today. 

Doug, a passionate cyclist, and Team Habitat NYC and Westchester at a rain-soaked TD 5 Boro Bike Tour in 2019.

 

The couple have also acted as the Chairs our Habitat House Party Host Committee since 2017. Under their leadership, this annual signature event has raised more than $3.5 million towards our mission.

Doug and Claudia have also been deeply involved in our Global Village Builds since their inception, and have traveled to build with families in the Dominican Republic.

Doug, alongside Dean Street Homeowners, Habitat NYC and Westchester CEO Karen Haycox and government partners at the Dean Street Ribbon Cutting ceremony in 2018, welcoming home 16 new Habitat Homeowner families in Brooklyn.

As Board Chair, Doug has overseen an organization that has….

  • Served more than 1,350 families through the Home Purchase Program and the Housing Preservation Program.
  • Welcomed more than 18,500 volunteers on construction sites, through A Brush with Kindness, at the ReStore, at special events and in the office.
  • Completed more than 56,000 transactions at the Queens ReStore.
  • Surpassed $1 million in global giving, mainly to Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Cambodia, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, through Habitat for Humanity International’s tithe program.
  • Founded the Interboro Community Land Trust, alongside our partners. Interboro is the largest CLT in New York City, making hundreds of homes permanently affordable.
  • Launched our multifaceted Housing Preservation Program in an effort to save critically endangered existing affordable homeownership units.
  • Incorporated our Habitat NYC Community Fund, which can help existing tenant-owned buildings resolve debt or make major repairs or upgrades and finance new affordable housing projects. The Community Fund has loaned more than $600,000 in its first four loans. 
  • Launched our COVID-19 Emergency Housing Response Fund which has raised more than $435,000, assisting active and furloughed Habitat NYC staff, long-term volunteers and consultants burdened by the sudden loss of income due to work stoppages; and, through a partnership with the Hungry Monk Rescue Truck, collecting and distributing 100,000 meals and essential personal items and expanding Hungry Monk Rescue Truck’s weekly services by 230%.
  • Expanded our service area into Westchester County, where we have the opportunity to serve millions more New Yorkers.
  • Celebrated the most prolific year of sales in the history of our affiliate, with a total of 51 units sold to hard-working families, the equivalent of nearly $12,000,000 in mortgages.
  • Launched Habitat NYC and Westchester’s very first Real Estate Council, created by Doug himself, where he now serves as co-chair.  

The Board of Directors will certainly miss Doug’s leadership, intelligence and clarity of purpose, but never to fear: the Morses remain deeply involved in Habitat NYC and Westchester. Doug remains engaged on the Board as Immediate Past Chair, and both Doug and Claudia will be honored at the 2021 Habitat House Party, held virtually and in person in October 2021.

To Doug: on behalf of all the Habitat NYC and Westchester Board, staff, volunteers and, of course, the more than 1,350 families we have served under your leadership – thank you!