Walter Simpkins recognized during National Homeownership Month | The Daily Gazette SECTIONS Shares0 SCHENECTADY – Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County used money from the city’s HOMES initiative to complete a build at 323 Schenectady St. in 2016. But a woman’s murder and other neighborhood concerns on that street’s 500 block made it a difficult sell, according to the agency’s executive director, Madelyn Thorne. The lack of interest made Thorne try something outside the box. Thorne said she recruited a particular individual, Community Fathers Executive Director Walter Simpkins, to apply. Simpkins’ eventual purchase of the house was celebrated to fanfare at City Hall Tuesday as part of National Homeownership Month.