A-HOME is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that acquires, develops, rehabilitates and manages affordable rental housing in northern Westchester for low-income older adults, disabled adults, and single parent families.

A-HOME properties are located throughout northern Westchester communities, in Bedford Hills, Chappaqua, Croton Falls, Katonah, Mt. Kisco, Thornwood and Vista (South Salem).

Homes are located in residential neighborhoods. In general, A-HOME purchases and rehabilitates older properties in disrepair. In 2004 A-HOME completed its first new construction, apartments for single parent families in Bedford Hills.

Independent living is supported by off-site housing case managers. A-HOME’s coalition of 26 religious and service organizations, corporate volunteers, and a wide variety of individuals and groups in the community provide a vast range of services from driving residents to doctor appointments, to maintaining gardens, to baking and giving computer lessons.

Residents of group homes require a much higher level of care with onsite round-the-clock staff and management. A-HOME’s residents live independently with a minimum of support.

Yes. Section 8, the Housing Choice Voucher Program, is a program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that helps individuals and families with incomes at 50% or less of the area’s median income afford modest rent. Most of A-HOME’s residents fall significantly below the 50% guideline.

We follow the federal Section 8 program guidelines, looking at income from all sources including government stipends (Social Security, disability), income from employment (before payroll deductions), interest/dividends, pensions, annuities, alimony/child support payments.  If a resident has any assets, a percentage is computed as income as well.

Residents pay an affordable portion of their monthly income.

Rent guidelines come from HUD, adjusted every year taking into account the locality, cost of living and size of unit. These rent guidelines are referred to as Fair Market Rents or FMR’s.

A-HOME receives subsidies from the federal, state and county governments (Section 8, Department of Community Mental Health, Office of Temporary Disability Assistance, Division of Housing and Community Development), rent from the residents, grants from corporations and non-profit funding sources, and contributions from private individuals, community organizations, corporations and fundraising activities.  A-HOME has a modest income from its investment portfolio, initially started with a very generous bequest from Helen Hamilton.

A-HOME has a variety of sources/programs available for purchase and rehabilitation of a new property and usually uses a combination of sources to fund each project.  Grants may be available after a competitive application process from Federal, State, County and foundation or corporate sources.  The Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program is available through a competitive process allocated by New York State’s Division of Housing and Community Renewal.  Sometimes A-HOME funds are used for pre-development or to temporarily bridge financing. Usually A-HOME has a conventional mortgage on a property.

Copies of our 990 tax returns (IRS tax form that all tax exempt charitable organizations with annual income over $25,000 are required to file), audit and annual reports are available at the A-HOME office on request, through the Attorney General’s Office, Charities Bureau, and online at www.Guidestar.com (look under Apropos Housing Opportunities and Management Enterprises, Inc.). The Annual Report is available on this website as a download.

Yes, A-HOME is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization recognized by the IRS.  Among other things, this entitles those who give A-HOME contributions to a tax deduction.

In some cases, A-HOME has worked with the town to create a PILOT agreement (payment in lieu of taxes), wherein A-HOME pays part of the tax on that property, usually excluding the school taxes.  Some towns keep the properties totally exempt.