Over a decade ago, when we began to dream about the possibility of providing affordable housing as a part of our commitment to stay put at 116 West Glen Avenue, we discovered that a church corporation was not the best organization to compete for government and other funding. As a result we created a new corporation, The Atonement Housing Corporation. It is a "membership corporation." That is, it is owned by a group of people known as "members." When a person is elected to the Church Council of Atonement Lutheran Church, they are automatically elected as "members" of the Housing Corporation. These members meet once a year and elect a board of directors that run the Housing Corporation. This board must have a majority membership of people who are also members of Atonement Lutheran Church.

Current church members on the board are Pator Nelson W. Gaetz (President), Charles LaDuca (Vice President), Signe Nelson (Secretary), and Jon Wilson (Treasurer). There are also three Board members who are not members of Atonement Church but rather are interested members of the wider community: Alfred Popkess, Dick Kennedy, and Kathy Joslyn.

The Housing Corporation was successful in constructing Joslyn Courts I and II (dedicated 9/12/2007) and operates them through a contract with Christopher Community - the housing management arm of Catholic Charities.

The Atonement Housing Corporation also purchased and renovated three houses on West Florence Avenue - just north of the church property. These units now provide affordable housing for 4 additional families.

In addition, the Housing Corporation purchased the property at the corner of Salina Street and West Florence Ave. This building contains three commercial units and the potential for four apartments. Joslyn Courts I and II, and the Florence Ave. projects, were made possible through a combination of funding including significant government assistance. Because the Salina Street property includes commercial units it is financially viable without government help.

Originally, grants from various church sources, including Mr. Raymond Kiesewetter and The Upstate New York Synod made the development of Joslyn Court possible. Over the years Atonement Church and now the Kiesewetter Endowment have been involved as "investors" in the projects. The Atonement Housing Corporation is proud that it has always paid a competitive rate of return to its "investors", including Atonement Church. We are also proud that fiscal responsibility has allowed us to do so much for people.