PRESS

For immediate release 9.9.09
Contact: Lonna Kelly
Phone: 914-741-0740
Cell: 914-584-8767
Email: lkelly@a-homehousing.org

A-HOME’S ANNUAL MEETING TO FEATURE ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS

Mt. Kisco, NY - A-HOME’s Annual meeting will be held on September 23th, 2009 at the Bedford Historical Hall, Bedford, NY. Business to be conducted that evening includes voting on the 2009/2010 budget and on proposed new board members Judy Aydelott, Katonah, John Priscantelli, Chappaqua,  Neil Radar, Katonah, Catherine M. Sabol, Pleasantville and Joyce Seligman, Pound Ridge. The board nominees are expected to be elected to three year terms and will join the board immediately.

Keynote speaker Joel Seligman, President and CEO of Northern Westchester Hospital and  A-HOME President’s Council Member will discuss Access vs. Affordability: A Common Dilemma in Housing and Healthcare. During his tenure at Northern Westchester Hospital, Joel’s focus has been on clinical excellence, service quality and community outreach.  One of his first initiatives was a series of meetings with community leaders and organizations that resulted in a new vision for the hospital and a strategic plan to achieve that vision.

The hospital, along with many local employers, recognize the need for safe, affordable housing for employees. For many working in northern Westchester living in affordable housing means long commutes and spending several hours a day driving or taking mass transit. According to the national Low Income Housing Coalition New York State  is ranked at a high #49 on  the list of states for affordability with the  two-bedroom housing wage  at $23.21 (what you would have to earn per hour for a two-bedroom market rate apartment to be affordable). The Westchester County housing wage is a shocking $30.96. At minimum wage you would have to work three full time jobs to afford a modest two bedroom apartment.

Now nearing its 25th year of service, A-HOME is focused on permanent affordable rental housing in northern Westchester, and has provided homes for close to 300 residents since its founding.  A-HOME currently has 12 properties with 16 buildings housing 100 individuals, 100% of whom meet the eligibility requirement of having income at or below 60% of Westchester County’s area median income of $73,700 for a one person household, with most below 30%. 

For additional information contact Lonna Kelly at 914-741-0740.

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A-HOME’S GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL WITH A LITTLE
HELP FROM FRIENDS

Mt. Kisco, NY – Starting back to school in the fall can be a tough time for families that are struggling to make ends meet. Required school supply lists can run upwards of a hundred dollars, and that’s before you add in the backpack. Families in A-HOME’s affordable housing, got help this year. Although the annual median income (AMI) for a one person household in Westchester is $73,700 the AMI for a family residing at A-HOME is about $20,000. Making ends meet requires a little help.

In late August Althea Beach, case manager for families, asked who needed help with school supplies.  Once the lists arrived Lynn Russell, Pleasantville, reached out to the community at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Pleasantville to ask for their assistance. Before school started new backpacks filled with the required school supplies were waiting at A-HOME’s office for the students.

In another corner of northern Westchester Pound Ridge Community Church member Ed Saunders was reaching out to the two college students at A-HOME. Both girls graduated from local high schools and will be the first in their families to attain a college degree. The Church’s Covill Fund provided two $1000 scholarships to the students to be used for college books, supplies and transportation.

For more information on A-HOME, northern Westchester’s affordable housing organization call 914-741-0740 or visit www.a-homehousing.org.