Habitat for Humanity’s Solar Barn Raising at Historic Mascot Flats

Forty years ago, volunteers came together to these apartments for home ownership. Today, we're coming together again to ensure they remain affordable for decades to come. This September, during Climate Week NYC, the Habitat for Humanity Solar Collaborative will host a solar barnraising—bringing volunteers, residents, and partners together to prepare for and celebrate the installation of rooftop solar on the historic Mascot Flats Habitat Coop building. Mascot Flats is the first Habitat for Humanity project President Jimmy Carter worked on. Forty years ago, volunteers rehabilitated the building as the first Habitat project in New York City and the first-ever Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. We’re returning today to begin the next chapter. More than a celebration, this event marks the launch of our work in New York, working in partnership with Habitat for Humanity New York State and Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester County. The Habitat for Humanity Solar Collaborative, a partnership between Habitat for Humanity state support organizations across the country and GiveSolar, is building a national model for equitable residential solar. Our goal: to reduce the energy burden for Habitat families and highlight the importance of the affordable housing sector in the clean energy transition. This is the energy we’re bringing to New York. Why This Matters Across the country, low-income homeowners continue to face disproportionately high energy costs while often being left out of the clean energy transition. The Habitat for Humanity Solar Collaborative is changing that. Working with Habitat state support organizations across the country, the Collaborative is creating a scalable model that combines: Affordable homeownership Clean energy Lower utility bills Community resilience Event Highlights Inspired by the tradition of community barn raising, we're coming together to build something no one organization or family could build alone. We’re excited to bring this celebration to NYC! What to expect: A celebration at an iconic Habitat site–Mascot Flats Preparations for the solar installation. (Attendees who would like to help carry solar panels up the stairs will have that opportunity! That’s what makes it a solar barn raising.) Habitat homeowner stories Networking with philanthropy, corporate, nonprofit, and public sector leaders Join Us We’d love to have you join us. Our NYC solar barn raising isn't simply an event. It's a demonstration of what's possible when communities come together to build a more affordable, resilient, and equitable future. We hope you'll help us raise the roof.