Mrs. Battalia acknowledged that some people had complained to her about the plan.

"I have worked with him on a number of committees," Mrs. Battalia said.

"At first, the majority of the community felt they had an obligation toward the people in the motel," Mrs. Battalia said.

One summer, Mrs. Battalia said, an attempt was made to get the motel children into the town's recreational program.

Families will be taught seemingly simple tasks, like grocery shopping, Mrs. Battalia said.

A survey last month by Battalia Winston International, an executive search firm, found companies split on the issue.

The charge was never substantiated, Mrs. Battalia said. "

Mrs. Battalia said, "Some people at the motel have been there long enough that you could have bought them a whole house."

Mrs. Battalia said the strong demand for property has made it difficult, if not impossible, for the town to find space for public projects.

Other support came from an engineer who inspected the building at no charge, Mrs. Battalia said, and from a local bank.

Mrs. Battalia said.

"We started looking for a house early because the real-state market was soft and I thought that would work to our advantage," Mrs. Battalia said.

This was an Italian named Francois Battalia.

The bride's father is the chairman of Battalia & Associates, an executive-search concern in New York.

"There are six families currently living at the Mamaroneck Motel," Mrs. Battalia said.

"The results were pretty depressing," said Dale Winston, president of Battalia Winston.

Why, our battalia trebles that account; Besides, the King's name is a tower of strength, Which they upon the adverse faction want.

Mrs. Battalia began planning to buy a house for homeless families in Larchmont, a village within the town of Mamoroneck.

The aim of Icare is to make homeless families independent of public financial support, Mrs. Battalia said.

A survey by Battalia Winston International, a New York executive recruiter, provides some evidence of this.

"Local property values have probably quadrupled in the last four years," said Dolores A. Battalia, the Town Supervisor.

The group was the brainchild of Dolores Battalia, a lawyer who was Town Supervisor for six years.

Looking to the Future Mrs. Battalia estimated that the average time homeless families will stay in the Icare house is 8 to 10 months.

"Contracts with employers aren't what they used to be," said Dale Winston of Battalia Winston.

Her father is a partner in the Wellesley Hills office of Battalia Winston International, an executive search firm.