Since 1985 the world has changed but for the last 25 years A-HOME has answered the call of hundreds who have “clicked their heels” and understood, “there’s no place like home.”

As we gear up for A-HOME’s 2010 Gala and 25th Anniversary Celebration taking place on Saturday, April 24th, at the Salem golf Club; we want everyone to know that A-HOME is the primary provider of safe, affordable rental housing in northern Westchester. Year-by-year we have successfully built or rehabilitated housing for older adults, individuals with disabilities and single parent families.

Join event chairs Janet and Peter Harckham, co-chairs Peter and Lynn Russell, and Sabin and Beverley Streeter, and vice-chairs Dick and Starr Lawrence in making this the must attend spring event.

In addition to the chairs and co-chairs the committee, still in formation, includes: Sara Arnell, Tim and Dierdra Clark, Kathy and Peter Dinkel, Peter and Mickie Eschweiler, and Pam and Dave Waill. Also on the committee are Cathy Andreycak, Judy Aydelott, Patti Barry, Kathy Boyle, Bill Carmody, Andy Chintz, Ona Cohn, Sandy Damman, Duo Dickinson, Peter and Selby Ehrlich, Carla Hawryluk, Susan Hoffman, Nancy and Herbert Kaufman, Lindsay Keller, Hank and Eileen Kensing, Ursula LaMotte, Jeanne Markel, Vicki McGrath, Rose Noonan, Sean O’Connor, Madeleine Polemeni, Susan Sandlund, Joyce Seligman, Marilyn Shanman, Susan Steel, and Mark Thielking.

The journal and auction committee, headed up by Liz Fryer includes Paul Briggs, Donna Camadeco, Andy Chintz, Joyce Dupee, Eileen Herbert, Dick Lemon, Cathy Sabol, Susan Steel, and Karen Wagner. An exquisite hand-made Indian rug and some beautiful jewelry have already been received for the auction.

Ticket prices begin at $250.
Click here for pricing information.


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Chappaqua Chamber Series: “Songs for My Mother, The Music of Marion R. “Doc” Davis and the Music He Loves”.

On January 24th the Chappaqua Chamber Series presented “Songs for My Mother, The Music of Marion R. “Doc” Davis and the Music He Loves” songs written by local composer (and A-HOME resident) Marion “Doc” Davis at the Chappaqua Library’s auditorium. Selections by Doc included Duke Ellington, Gershwin, Dvorak, and traditional spirituals. Sharing the stage with Doc were soprano Deborah Horne a highly versatile performer with a wide ranging repertoire and, on piano, Michael Shapiro, in his eighth season as Music Director and Conductor of the Chappaqua Orchestra.

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A-HOME buys Wildwood Residence, the Bedford Pound Ridge Record Review
Read article by Eve Marx with interviews with Joan Arnold and Duo Dickinson, Architect
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A-HOME embraces old friends and gathers new  

A-HOME gatherings are being held throughout northern Westchester at the homes of board members and supporters. Hosts invite their neighbors and friends. Over cocktail and hors d’oeuvres Executive Director Joan Arnold brings everyone up to date on how A-HOME is serving the community and its commitment to the future of housing in northern Westchester. Guests have the opportunity to ask questions, see the locations of A-HOME properties and photographs of the houses. Two gatherings have been held in Pleasantville and one in Katonah. Several more are scheduled for Katonah, Mount Kisco, Bedford and Goldens Bridge.

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Joan P. Arnold, A-HOME’s Executive Director to be Honored

For the past 25 years, Joan P. Arnold has provided leadership, vision and the commitment to build and manage affordable housing in northern Westchester. In April Joan will be honored on April 24th, at A-HOME’s 25th Anniversary Gala. In March Joan will receive the Citizen of the Year from the Westchester Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

Providing permanent, safe, affordable housing that allows for enough food to eat in addition to supportive case management to help negotiate the difficult bureaucracies that are so daunting, has enabled countless number of residents at A-HOME to achieve independence, continue in their recovery, and contribute to and participate in their communities. Her work has enriched many lives and she has involved a diverse committed coalition of local civic and religious groups to achieve her goals as well to insure the continued growth of A-HOME and its services.

Joan’s passion for affordable housing was kindled when her mother, Mildred Potter, a retired career woman was unable to remain in her apartment that, with dwindling resources, proved to be too expensive. Mrs. Potter had held many executive positions in the fashion industry, including being the first female account executive at J. Walter Thompson, an advertising agency. But these career moves left Mrs. Potter with no pension; her only income was her Social Security check.

At the time Joan was living in Katonah with her husband and three young children. Housing issues kept intruding on her life. While working with Peg Normann on their first collaboration, Apropos Services, a grant-writing service, community members repeatedly asked them why they didn’t write a proposal for affordable housing. The need was there as was the housing stock. Northern Westchester was full of older houses in need of repair – the area hadn’t been discovered yet. Katonah and Bedford Hills were sleepy towns with many rundown properties. No one entity existed that could put together the components to get affordable housing off the ground.

Inspiration came from the Nehemiah Project, an exciting concept that had sprung up in Brooklyn. Faith-based organizations in East Brooklyn had joined together to help solve the area’s problems and safe, affordable housing was one of their targets. With the Nehemiah Project as their blueprint, Joan Arnold and Peg Normann brought together a coalition of community groups, churches and synagogues to take on the housing challenge. In 1985 Apropos Housing Opportunities and Management Enterprises, dba A-HOME, was incorporated and developed a model of shared housing, the most economical model of affordable housing.

In 1993 Joan was hired as the first paid Executive Director. Her involvement has given A-HOME stability and a coherent vision. Joan believes that everybody has the right to decent, affordable housing and loves the challenge of developing attractive housing that fits into the neighborhood.

A-HOME, the only organization in northern Westchester providing permanent affordable rental housing, currently offers shared housing to older adults and individuals living with disabilities, studio apartments and living suites with shared kitchens for seniors, apartments for single-parent families and, most recently, apartments for individuals. As the leader of an innovative organization Joan has brought the first affordable housing to Pound Ridge and found ways to bring affordable housing to towns as different as Chappaqua and South Salem.

Often people have become homeless or are living in sub-standard housing before coming to A-HOME. Their income is not enough to rent an apartment let alone be stretched to purchase food and needed medicines. Once at A-HOME, residents pay an affordable portion of their income for rent, often less than 30%. Criteria for applicants include the ability to live independently. There is no staff living on site and residents must be competent in daily living skills. Case managers work with residents to enhance these skills. Through case management and linkages with human service agencies, A-HOME has the ability to provide the needed services that allow individuals to live as independently as their potential allows. Volunteers augment the services provided and respond to unmet needs of residents.

As with the familiar quotation “it takes a village to raise a child” it truly takes a community to build affordable housing; it’s not a solitary undertaking. In 1985 when Joan Arnold pulled together the coalition of organizations that supported the founding of A-HOME she laid the foundation for success.  Historically A-HOME’s Coalition has provided the community support that necessary. Comprised of 26 religious, civic and service organizations that support A-HOME with volunteer activities, financial contributions and the advocacy of affordable housing, the Coalition is the foundation that makes A-HOME a true community-based organization. As A-HOME grew from one house in 1985 to 13 properties with 17 houses, it was with the support of the Coalition.

Getting a project off the ground can be daunting. Land is scarce. The fear of diminishing property value creates panic in neighbors. Funding must be pieced together in a patchwork of grants, loans, and mortgages. Yet, in a county considered difficult to build in, with high land costs, restrictive zoning and a lack of infrastructure, Joan has been successful in developing 17 projects with several more on the drawing board. 

Joan’s commitment to personal and professional growth is a hallmark of her administrative abilities. Staff development and a positive working atmosphere are a priority. For example yoga classes have been offered at the end of a workday and staff retreats are planned to be both fun and relationship building. A plethora of staff development opportunities for the entire staff have included property development and clinical issues and challenges for residents - resulting in a greater understanding and appreciation for different departments within the agency.

Under Joan’s leadership A-HOME grows steadily, one house at a time, giving low income older adults, disabled individuals and single-parent families the opportunity to live safely, affordably and to develop empowered, meaningful lives.

Joan cuts the ribbon at Scotts Ridge
with help from board president Peter Russell