Graham School campus in Hastings will close by the fall

Graham Windham's youth residential program in the Hastings campus will close by the end of fall. 

Plans to close the 214-year-old program, which was formerly the Eliza Hamilton orphanage featured in the live-action play "Hamilton," has been in the works for about a year, but the pandemic sped up the plans, CEO Jess Dannhauser said. 

"This decision comes as a result of a combination of good public policy to serve more children in families and near home, not-so-good public policy that has devalued the extraordinary staff that do this work, financial challenges and a strategic decision on our part to focus more of our efforts on community-based help to families," Dannhauser said.

About 120 people will lose their jobs in Hastings, but Dannhauser said their team is working with the staff to find employment within Graham, which will continue its programs in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Bronx, or externally before the residential programs closes completely in the fall. 

Graham Windham also intends to continue its partnership with the Greenburgh-Graham school district, Dannhauser said. 

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"The Graham School Campus has provided thousands of young people with a compassionate safe haven and the skills to succeed in life," Dannhauser said. "We are deeply grateful to our team who have carried this 200-year legacy of compassionate and effective service through this phase-out process, happening amidst one of New York’s most challenging hours.

Christopher J. Eberhart covers breaking news. Click here for his latest stories. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisEberhart2. Check out how to support local journalism here.