After months of hard work and anticipation, a Newburgh family can finally move into their new home. Our Venise Toussaint was there for the latest Habitat for Humanity celebration.

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“I feel wonderful, I feel blessed for this opportunity with Habitat to own our own home,” said Renee Knight, a new homeowner.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh and a group of volunteers restored the house from the inside out. It went from being an eyesore with broken windows and boarded up doors to a beautiful four bedroom home.

This is the fiftieth home Habitat has renovated in Newburgh. After four months of hard work, the Knight family is ready to move in.

“We have a balance of doing gut rehabs or new builds and this particular house was a gut rehab, meaning everything but the shell of the building - that was what we were working with,” said Cathy Collins, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh.

Families are chosen based on need and income. They are also required to put in at least 250 hours of labor into helping rebuild.

“It was rough but I was on a mission. I didn’t want anything to stand in my way,” said Renee Knight.

Habitat bought the home from the City of Newburgh for $1. They received money from grants, corporate sponsors, and community donations to pay for the $219,000 renovation.

“This is also a day of tremendous gratitude for everyone that partners with us because otherwise we would not be able to be here,” said Collins.

It’s gratitude Renee and her family say they'll show by giving back to others in need.

“We can go and lift a hammer and try to help out. Maybe we can rebuild Newburgh one house at a time,” said Knight.