By Katie Vasquez
There is a lot of excitement about a new project at the Sisters of Saint Joseph campus in Brentwood, Long Island: 176 units of supportive affordable housing are being built at the former Academy of St. Joseph site. It will be called “St Joseph’s Village.”
“[It] had been a boarding school for decades and eventually became a day school about 15 years ago, sadly, we had to close the building,” Sister Tesa Fitzgerald, the president of the Sisters of Saint Joseph at Brentwood, told Currents News.
The religious sisters were looking at ways for the building to be of use to the greater community, and got in touch with the organization Concern Housing.
“I got very excited,” executive director of Concern Housing, Ralph Fasano, told Currents News. “We will bring them back to their original glory and maybe even a little bit better.”
The Long Island non-profit will take ownership of the buildings, which were deemed a historic site, so that the facade will stay the same.
“That was a selling point to our sisters, of course, because some people said, ‘Oh, you’re going to knock it down.’ No way will we be knocking this gorgeous building down,” said Sister Fitzgerald.
Half of the units will be affordable for those have a hard time paying rent.
“One bedroom apartments now go for about $2,600 a month, and we can rent apartments for about $1,200,” said Fasano.
Residents will also have supportive services.
“Some people need help with their medications. Some people need help with caring for themselves, food,” Fasano added.
Fasano and Sister Fitzgerald both have the same goals, to serve the needy.
“There was a real compatibility of our missions. and, and I thought about, you know, what we can do to make this place wonderful,” said Fasano.
“Our mission is really love of God and love of the neighbor without distinction. And it means to pay attention to the needs of the time, to pay attention to the people in our neighborhood and beyond,” explained Sister Fitzgerald.
The estimated cost is $150 million, 90% of which will be government -funded.
Before construction can begin, they have to close on financing, which they hope to do by June 2026.
If you would like to donate, you can visit Concern Housing and click the “how to help” tab at the top of the homepage.