Westchester County Habitat for Humanity Launches AIP Program

Based in New York City, Dyan Gershman is the founder and managing partner of Gershman Law, PLLC, an international and domestic corporate law firm. Possessing a law degree from Boston College Law School and more than 25 years of corporate law experience, Dyan Gershman is adept at handling a wide range of corporate matters. In addition to her legal work, she supports a number of charitable endeavors, including Habitat for Humanity. In New York City, Habitat for Humanity maintains a dedicated branch for families in the five boroughs of NYC as well as in Westchester County.

Westchester County Habitat for Humanity, a chapter of Habitat for Humanity NYC and Westchester County, launched its Aging in Place (AIP) program with help from Westchester Residential Opportunities in March 2023. This program improves the quality of life for seniors through boosting home energy efficiency and home repair services. These services also focus on modifications that aid in mobility and safety, for instance, adding grab bars and repairing porches.

The services offered through the AIP program help with independent living among individuals who are of advanced age. Further, it helps them save money by reducing energy costs for their home, which also reduces their carbon footprint. Several inaugural partners provided the AIP program with funding, as did congressional and Senate representatives. Westchester County Habitat for Humanity plans on broadening AIP services to include the installation of stair lifts, entry ramps, and other modifications as it receives additional funding for such projects.

Considerations when Planning Entry into the US Market

Based in New York City, Dyan Gershman is the founder and partner of Gershman Law PLLC and provides corporate legal advice and solutions in areas such as joint ventures and technology licensing. Dyan Gershman also assists international companies as they seek to expand into the United States.

A first step in such a move, even before legal hurdles are crossed, involves ensuring financial viability through analyzing company forecasts, accounts, and liabilities. Moving across borders carries with it significant risk, as well as expenses related to operations in new markets, and this can easily result in rapid capital loss. This is particularly true in the United States, where the sheer scale of commerce can overwhelm companies used to operating in smaller regions and markets.

A key to navigating US markets is ensuring that enough capital is available, not simply to meet regulatory and tax requirements, but to expand and thrive. An attorney can give guidance on just the right business entity to accomplish these goals. With many companies opting to create subsidiaries for foreign entry, there are several templates that can be used, from LLC to incorporation. It’s also wise to seek legal advice on core issues of compliance with US employment law, with particular focus on matters such as benefits, contracts, hiring practices, and discrimination law. If the company is bringing in team members from abroad, immigration law comes into play as well.