Our Team

Lynn Abramson, MA, Ed. - Program Director, ASAP (After School Academic Program)

Jennifer Lyn Amon, BS - Program Director, HEAL & Mentoring Initiative

Carmen Ayala, MSW - Director of Diversion Services and Supported Housing

Shon’tel Campbell, BA - Case Manager, Young Adult Rapid Rehousing

Wendy Epstein, LCSW - Director of Supportive Housing

Michael Green, MS - Case Manager, Young Adult Rapid Rehousing

JoAnn Hughes, LMSW - Case Manager, Supportive Housing

Sara Kochis, BSW - Case Manager, Supportive Housing

Tykeisha Mendez - Case Manager, Rapid Rehousing

Juliana Schwartz, MS - Program Director, Gillespie Center & Hoskins Place

Marvin Taylor, BS - Case Manager, Gillespie Center & Hoskins Place

Helen McAlinden (President & CEO) of Homes with Hope. Prior to joining Homes with Hope in January 2020, Helen worked for almost two decades in Senior Leadership positions at The Connection including Director of Homeless Outreach and Development.Helen’s interest in and dedication to the most vulnerable and homeless in society began shortly after she immigrated to New York at the age of 17 from a small rural farming town in the west of Ireland. She began by volunteering to feed the homeless in a program run by an Irish agency in the Bronx. Ultimately, her passion for volunteering with the homeless led her to make a fundamental career change after 9/11. Leaving behind her business career, she switched to social work with the goal of doing everything within her power to ensure that nobody experiences homelessness.  Since that switch, Helen has become a highly-respected, fearless, and valued leader in the field of affordable and supportive housing. Over the years, she has successfully advocated for thousands of CT families to be reunited with their families of origin in safe, stable, and affordable housing.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Helen successfully led Homes with Hope to increase staffing, services, and funding, to support the most vulnerable with housing and food insecurity in Fairfield County.  She advocated and successfully testified to Connecticut legislators’ decision-makers for increased funding to support the goal that homelessness becomes a rare, brief, and a one-time experience within the State of Connecticut. In simple terms, ending homelessness has become Helen’s life’s work. Her commitment to what some might see as an insurmountable goal has resulted in many recognitions and awards for her, including the 2014 Partnership for Strong Communities’ Reverend Richard Schuster Advocacy Award.

On top of her leadership roles at Homes with Hope and The Connection, Helen has provided leadership and guidance to numerous Statewide Boards. She was selected and presented at National Conferences that include The National Alliance to End Homelessness, The Child Welfare League of America, and The National Center for Housing and Child Welfare. Helen has been actively involved for over ten years in the leadership of Opening Doors Fairfield County (ODFC), where she is currently Secretary and Co-chair of its Advocacy Committee. She is also an active member of Westport Rotary Club.

A first-generation college graduate, Helen holds a business degree with a concentration in Leadership Management from Manhattan College and a Master’s in Social Work with a Specialization in Substance Abuse from Fordham University.  She is a graduate of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council Leadership Greater Bridgeport Program. She is a dual citizen of Ireland and the US and is as proud of her US citizenship as she is of her Irish heritage. In her spare time, Helen enjoys spending quality and fun time with her husband, daughter, and friends.  

Paris Looney, LMSW (Vice President & COO, Director of Emergency Shelter Services) joined Homes with Hope in December of 2004 as a Case Manager at the Gillespie Center & Hoskins Place, the agency’s shelter for single men and women, and was promoted to Program Director at the Bacharach Community in June of 2006. Paris was also the Case Manager at Saugatuck Apartments, one of HwH’s permanent supportive housing facilities from December 2004 until March 2012. In February 2012, Paris was promoted to Director of Emergency Shelter Services overseeing all of HwH’s emergency shelters including the Gillespie Center & Hoskins Place while she continued to serve as the Program Director of the Bacharach Community. In February 2018, Paris was promoted to Vice President & COO while remaining the Director of Emergency Shelter Services. Paris brings to the position a Bachelor’s in Human Services and a Masters in Social Work from Fordham University. She came to the job with very relevant experience, having worked with the homeless, with new mothers and children, as well as for the Bridgeport Health Department. Her experience working with the homeless population, specifically those with substance abuse and mental health issues, adds critical strength to this position.

Jacqueline Hogan (Chief Financial Officer) came to Homes with Hope after a career in financial administration, analysis and process improvement. Jacque’s responsibilities include oversight of all financial areas of HwH including reporting, controls, and analysis.

Maureen Liebergall (Director of Community Relations) serves as a key point of contact for many aspects of the organization. Maureen's responsibilities include event planning and oversight, coordination of community outreach efforts, and the management of the agency's donor database. Maureen joined the staff of Homes with Hope in September 2014.

Katharine Murray (Sr Director of Marketing & Development) joins Homes with Hope as our Marketing Manager. Katharine is a marketing professional and has worked in the industry for 25 years for companies including IBM and Daymon Worldwide, where she worked as in marketing communication and strategy. Katharine manages all aspects of marketing and social media for Homes with Hope. She joined us in October 2022.

Yolanda Xochitecatl Tlahuetl (Finance Assistant)

Executive Committee

John Walsh (Chair) retired from Pfizer where he worked for the Warner-Lambert Company for 30 years in a variety of management positions. Most recently, he was President of the Schick Wilkinson Sword Group in Milford, CT. John is a director of the Global Foundation for Eating Disorders and has also served as a trustee of Fairleigh Dickinson University and the National Childhood Cancer Foundation. John holds a BS from Boston College and an MBA from Seton Hall University. John and his wife Sara live in Westport and have three daughters: Connie, Elizabeth, and Alexandra.

Rebecca (Becky) Martin (Vice Chair) worked in the political and non-profit sectors, where she was engaged primarily in development and coalition-building on campaigns and within institutions, including the Democratic National Committee, the United Nations Foundation, and the Yale Law School. Since having three children, she has continued that work as a volunteer, as President of the Board of the Children’s Community Development Center for four years and as a leader in local political organizations, while establishing a freelance writing career. Her work has been published in the New York Times, BrainChild, and Literary Mama, among other publications. Rebecca attended Bryn Mawr College and earned a law degree at Georgetown University.

Ralph Yearwood (Treasurer) retired, moved to Westport with his spouse, Claire in 1984. They have three children, Katherine, Anne, and Steven who benefitted from the Westport public school system. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School, Ralph started his career in finance in investment banking; then ended his career in institutional asset management. Ralph is currently on the Finance Committee of the Episcopal Church in CT; on the board of the St. John Family Center located in Bridgeport which runs a food pantry and an after-school learning program; and a mentor in the Norwalk Public School system.

Lauren Schiller (Secretary) grew up in NYC and received her BA in Psychology from Marymount Manhattan College. Her first love and passion is photography and Art Therapy and she considers herself an avid art/photography collector. Lauren has worked in art galleries throughout New York City, Boston, and London, UK. She was the volunteer coordinator for Chuck Schumer during his 1998 campaign and assisted with fundraising events. Lauren spent two years with Bottomless Closet, an all-female-run organization that helps women transition from public assistance into the workplace, and at Susan Ulin Associates, a consulting firm that specialized in event management for non-profit organizations. Lauren was previously on the steering committee of Planned Parenthood and was on the boards of the Genetic Disease Foundation and Kayak for a Cause. Lauren and her husband, Brian moved to Westport almost 10 years ago. Upon moving to Westport Lauren figured the best way to meet others and learn more about the community was through organizations like Homes with Hope. She and her husband attended HwH's Stand Up event in 2011 and they have enjoyed attending events and supporting HwH's mission ever since. Lauren is the proud mother of two children, a daughter who attends GFA and a son who attends FCDS. Lauren, her husband and brother own a Home Healthcare business in Fairfield County.

Directors

Brian Baxendale lives with his wife, Marjolijn in Westport and his sons, daughters, and grandkids are spread between Europe, the Caribbean, and America. Brian has worked for Ford, Mars, and ran a global Pitney Bowes business for the ten years prior to retirement. Since then he has worked with Junior Achievement, Habitat for Humanity, Homes with Hope, and SCORE as a volunteer. Brian enjoys traveling, pursuing business interests, his extended family, and helping people realize their dream of starting and growing their businesses. Brian graduated from Cambridge and Bradford Universities in the UK.

Jennifer Ferrante is an attorney with 10 years of experience with a private law firm handling commercial litigation and a career-long commitment to the nonprofit sector, including Sanctuary for Families and The Legal Aid Society in New York. Jennifer currently works at the Center for Family Justice in Bridgeport, where she is coordinating the state's first civil legal incubator program. Jennifer has served on Project Return's board since 2015 and has volunteered for the organization since 2012 on the Gather 'Round the Table Luncheon committee. Additionally, she is involved with the Westport Chapter of National Charity League and AWARE CT and was President of the Board of Directors for the Apple Blossom School in Wilton. Jennifer and her husband have two children and live in Westport.

Dale Fredston spent her career as a corporate lawyer in the financial services industry. Most recently, she was General Counsel of Sterling National Bank and Sterling Bancorp. She currently serves on the board of Metropolitan Commercial Bank, a full-service bank in New York City, where she chairs the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and is a member of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Oversight Committees. Dale is a Director, Secretary of the Board and Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee of The Child & Family Guidance Center in Bridgeport. Dale has done volunteer legal work for the Pro Bono Partnership for many years. Her pro bono legal work includes several non-profit mergers, including assisting with the Project Return combination. She is a Past President of the Board of Trustees of the Westport Public Library. Dale holds a BA from Wellesley College and a JD from the Columbia University School of Law. Dale and her husband, Jonathan Bullard, have lived in Westport for over 35 years.

Allyson Gottlieb is a member of the board of Temple Israel in Westport, where she has chaired the institution's Social Action Committee for the past six years. In that capacity, she has developed an annual community service day and worked closely with Homes with Hope. Allyson also serves as the Art Smart Chair at Coleytown Elementary and has volunteered with the Bridgeport School system for the past six years. She was previously an executive to the sales and business units of various media companies, including The New York Times, Condé Nast, AOL, and NetZero. Allyson is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. She moved to Westport with her husband Scott in 2012. They have three young daughters who attend Coleytown Elementary School.

Jeffrey Gurren, retired, has lived in Weston since 1995 with his wife, Georgia, and their two children, Amanda and Matthew. A graduate of Syracuse University and New York Law School, Jeff practiced real estate law in New York with the national law firms of Weil Gotchal & Manges, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, and Finely, Kimble, Wagner. In 1987, he co-founded a title insurance agency, which handled commercial real estate transactions in New York and nationally. For many years, he served on the executive committee of the New York State Land Title Association. He has lectured frequently on various real estate and title insurance topics and for several years was a faculty member in connection with continuing legal education courses presented by the American Law Institute-American Bar Association. Jeff is a member of the Weston Kiwanis Club's board of directors and serves as co-chair of its youth and community services committee.

Will Haskell spent two terms in the Connecticut State Senate representing the 26th District, which includes his hometown of Westport. He is a Westport Public Schools and Georgetown University graduate and is currently pursuing his law degree at New York University. During his time in the legislature, Will was a vocal advocate for housing affordability and was proud to be the only renter in the state senate. He previously worked on the staff of Congressman Jim Himes. Will is the author of Simon & Schuster’s 100,000 First Bosses.

Bruce Hennemuth and his wife, Roxie moved to Westport in 1987.  Bruce worked in the financial world for his entire career and retired in January 2019 from Morgan Stanley. Bruce and Roxie have a son who is 30 and lives in Los Angeles. Their 23-year-old daughter lives and works in New York City.

Jane Kim has been a resident of Westport for 14 years, having grown up in the Midwest. Her career has straddled business and technology, working in engineering working in and management in a variety of technology startups and digital advertising companies. Currently, she is the head coach of the Women's Rugby Team at Fairfield University and the head coach of Girls Rugby at Staples High School. She recently joined the board of A Better Chance Westport and lives with her husband, Tom, and two daughters, who attend Staples High School. She attended Harvard College and received her master's in Computer Science at New York University.

Natasha Lipcan has lived in Westport with her husband David and their two children since 2012. She is an attorney specializing in employment law. Natasha began her career in private practice before moving into the financial services industry.  She was in-house employment counsel at Citi for twelve years. She is currently working as a legal consultant. Natasha holds a BA from Vassar College and a JD from the University Of Connecticut School Of Law.

Naeema Livingston was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Naeema moved to New York after completing undergraduate studies at South Carolina State University. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice. Naeema enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. She earned numerous awards including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Naeema later earned her law degree from Pace University School of Law and currently practices family law in New York City where she specializes in cases involving special needs children. She serves on the Board of Trustees for the New York City Autism Charter School and is a member of the operations committee. Naeema is most proud of her role as a mother to three wonderful school-aged children, who are all enrolled in Westport Public Schools. Naeema spends her time watching them explore their talents through their extra-curricular activities and running out of coffee.

Elizabeth (Beth) Massoud joined the Homes with Hope board in February 2019. She is currently the VP of Business Development and e-Commerce at Mitchells Family of Stores. Prior to Mitchells, she worked as an investment banker with Volpe Welty & Company, Daiwa Securities, and Bear Stearns. She specialized in the healthcare, technology, and media sectors. Beth serves as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Habitat for Humanity Coastal Fairfield County.  In prior years, she served as Chairman of the Board, Finance Committee, Development Committee, and Women Build member. She attended Harvard College and Harvard Business School. Beth lives in Westport with her husband Joe, where they have raised their three sons.

Claudia Nixon is a seasoned international education and cultural exchange professional, currently serving as the Regional Program Manager for Au Pair in America. Claudia holds a BS in Sign Language Interpretation from the University of New Hampshire and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) certificate from Cornell University, which she completed in January 2023. Claudia is a mother of two adult children, and she brings her nurturing qualities and life experience to her new role as a grandmother, affectionately known as "YaYa," to her first grandson. Claudia has been an active member of the AIFS Diversity Task Force and the APIA Diversity Task Force since 2020 and 2021, respectively. She has been an AWARE CT (Assisting Women Through Action, Resources, and Education) member since 2017, demonstrating her dedication to empowering women and children and advocating for their advancement.

Steven Paymer, MSW, CPCT has been at the forefront of drug and alcohol testing and monitoring on a national level for the last 18 years. He is the founder and president of Paymer Associates, LLC, and National Drug Testing Compliance and Management Co., LLC. The two companies are full-service drug and alcohol testing and monitoring firms. He has testified as an expert witness in hundreds of cases in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and North Carolina. He has presented on the topic across the country and internationally. Steven has spent most of the last thirty years in substance abuse prevention and treatment. He received his master’s in social work, with a clinical concentration, from Fordham University and a BA in Political Science from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Before opening his company in 2006, he worked as a community advocate for adolescent substance abuse prevention and treatment and as a school social worker. He lives in Trumbull, CT, with his two children and his wife, Shannon.

Lauren Soloff moved to Westport with her husband, Wes Malowitz, in 1994. They raised their three children in town: Hannah, a graduate of William & Mary, is now working in Washington, D.C., Jake, a graduate of Vanderbilt University, is now working in New York City, and Benji is now a sophomore at the University of Michigan. Lauren is the owner and president of Sonics & Materials, Inc., an ultrasonic equipment manufacturing company located in Newtown, CT. Prior to her work with Sonics, she was a labor and employment law attorney, working in both the public and private sectors. Since moving to Westport, she has served on the PTA Executive Committee of Saugatuck Elementary School, as well as the board of The Conservative Synagogue in Westport. Presently she serves on the RTM for District 9 in Westport. She is a graduate of Tufts University and the Washington College of Law at American University.

Kate Weber spent her career in investment banking at S.G. Warburg and Lehman Brothers and is a founder and co-owner of Cambridge International Securities since 1995. She grew up in England and graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in Modern and Medieval Languages. She is passionate about health and wellness and taught Anatomy and Physiology for many years at CCMT in Westport. She returned to academia in 2018 to earn an MS in Clinical Nutrition from NYU. Kate and her husband Bill have lived in Westport since 1988 and have two children.

Chan Wheeler has 30 years in senior executive roles with Maxicare, CIGNA Healthcare, and finally spent 10 years with UnitedHealth Group as CEO of the Uniprise Division, responsible for claims, service, technology, and web development as well as serving a customer base of corporations with 5,000 or more employees. He has a BA and BS from Stanford University, a Master in Health Communications Research from Stanford University, and an MBA from UCLA. He retired from UnitedHealth Group in 2005 and most recently spent a year in England working for the UK Department of Health as its Commercial Director-General. He is an investor and board member for HealthPlanOne, a healthcare technology firm. He lives in Westport with his wife Leslie.