diff --git a/src/servers/api/pi/rest.ts b/src/servers/api/pi/rest.ts
index 403b27f3..36da2a16 100644
--- a/src/servers/api/pi/rest.ts
+++ b/src/servers/api/pi/rest.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ piRestRouter.get('/pi/models', async (ctx: Context) => {
       providerNames[`officer-local-${lp.id}`] = lp.name;
     }
 
-    return ctx.json({ models, providerNames });
+    return ctx.json({ models, providerNames, hostHome: process.env.HOME ?? '' });
   } catch (err) {
     logger.error('Failed to list models', { error: String(err) });
     return ctx.json({ models: [], providerNames: {} });
diff --git a/src/workspaces/officerdev/src/apps/ChatHistory/ChatDetailPanel.tsx b/src/workspaces/officerdev/src/apps/ChatHistory/ChatDetailPanel.tsx
index 534928e0..bca4f25e 100644
--- a/src/workspaces/officerdev/src/apps/ChatHistory/ChatDetailPanel.tsx
+++ b/src/workspaces/officerdev/src/apps/ChatHistory/ChatDetailPanel.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
+import { useState } from 'react';
 import { useLocation } from 'react-router';
-import { Trash2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Trash2, Home, Monitor } from 'lucide-react';
 import { usePanelChannel } from 'hooks/usePanelChannel';
 import { useChatSessions } from 'state/useChatSessions';
+import { getHostHome } from 'state/useModels';
 import { usePiChat, EmbeddableChat } from '../Chat';
 
 export type SelectedSession = {
@@ -91,12 +93,48 @@ function SessionChat({ sessionId, model }: SessionChatProps) {
   );
 }
 
+function CwdToggle({ cwdMode, onChange }: { cwdMode: 'user' | 'host'; onChange: (mode: 'user' | 'host') => void }) {
+  const hostHome = getHostHome();
+  if (!hostHome) return null;
+
+  return (
+    <div className="shrink-0 flex items-center gap-1 px-4 py-1.5 border-b border-duck-dark/10 dark:border-foreground/10 bg-background/40">
+      <span className="text-xs text-duck-dark/50 dark:text-foreground/50 mr-1">cwd</span>
+      <button
+        onClick={() => onChange('user')}
+        className={`inline-flex items-center gap-1 px-2 py-0.5 rounded text-xs transition-colors cursor-pointer ${
+          cwdMode === 'user'
+            ? 'bg-duck-teal/15 text-duck-teal font-medium'
+            : 'text-duck-dark/40 dark:text-foreground/40 hover:text-duck-dark/60 dark:hover:text-foreground/60'
+        }`}
+      >
+        <Home className="h-3 w-3" />
+        User Home
+      </button>
+      <button
+        onClick={() => onChange('host')}
+        className={`inline-flex items-center gap-1 px-2 py-0.5 rounded text-xs transition-colors cursor-pointer ${
+          cwdMode === 'host'
+            ? 'bg-duck-teal/15 text-duck-teal font-medium'
+            : 'text-duck-dark/40 dark:text-foreground/40 hover:text-duck-dark/60 dark:hover:text-foreground/60'
+        }`}
+      >
+        <Monitor className="h-3 w-3" />
+        Host Home
+      </button>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
 function NewChat() {
   const location = useLocation();
   const locationState = location.state as ChatLocationState;
+  const [cwdMode, setCwdMode] = useState<'user' | 'host'>('user');
 
   const chat = usePiChat(undefined, locationState?.model);
 
+  const cwd = cwdMode === 'host' ? { path: getHostHome() } : locationState?.cwd;
+
   const initialMessage = locationState?.initialMessage
     ? {
         text: locationState.initialMessage,
@@ -114,13 +152,14 @@ function NewChat() {
         isGenerating={chat.isGenerating}
         onDelete={undefined}
       />
+      {!chat.hasStarted && <CwdToggle cwdMode={cwdMode} onChange={setCwdMode} />}
       <EmbeddableChat
         chat={chat}
         sessionId={undefined}
         initialModel={locationState?.model ?? undefined}
         initialMessage={initialMessage}
         defaultInput={locationState?.prefillInput ?? ''}
-        cwd={locationState?.cwd}
+        cwd={cwd}
         className="flex-1 min-h-0"
       />
     </div>
diff --git a/src/workspaces/state/src/useModels.ts b/src/workspaces/state/src/useModels.ts
index ceb92301..0ad15760 100644
--- a/src/workspaces/state/src/useModels.ts
+++ b/src/workspaces/state/src/useModels.ts
@@ -12,11 +12,16 @@ export function modelKey(m: ModelOption): string {
 
 // Store provider names globally for display
 let globalProviderNames: Record<string, string> = {};
+let globalHostHome = '';
 
 export function getProviderDisplayName(providerId: string): string {
   return globalProviderNames[providerId] || providerId;
 }
 
+export function getHostHome(): string {
+  return globalHostHome;
+}
+
 export function usePiModels() {
   const client = useClient();
   const { isAuthenticated } = useAuth();
@@ -25,7 +30,7 @@ export function usePiModels() {
     queryKey: ['PI_MODELS'],
     enabled: isAuthenticated,
     queryFn: async () => {
-      const data = await client.get<{ models: ModelOption[]; providerNames?: Record<string, string> }>('/pi/models');
+      const data = await client.get<{ models: ModelOption[]; providerNames?: Record<string, string>; hostHome?: string }>('/pi/models');
       
       console.log('[usePiModels] Fetched models:', { 
         modelCount: data.models.length, 
@@ -38,6 +43,10 @@ export function usePiModels() {
         globalProviderNames = data.providerNames;
         console.log('[usePiModels] Stored provider names:', globalProviderNames);
       }
+
+      if (data.hostHome) {
+        globalHostHome = data.hostHome;
+      }
       
       return data.models;
     },