For LGBTQ+ seniors, finding housing that meets their needs but is also inclusive can be a struggle. But for seniors in the Bronx, that might not be such a difficult prospect after all: Affordable Housing Finance reports that a new senior community in Tremont will be LGBTQ+-inclusive.
Developed by SAGE, the largest organization in the U.S. dedicated to helping LGBTQ+ seniors, and HELP USA, the Crotona Senior Residences will be part of a national push to support LGBTQ+ people ages 62 and older. Though the Crotona Senior Residents isn’t expected to open until fall 2019, it has broken ground this month.
The center will include 84 studios and one-bedrooms, 26 of which will be set aside for seniors who have experienced homelessness.
“Finding welcoming housing is one of the most difficult challenges faced by our LGBTQ+ elders,” SAGE CEO Michael Adams told Affordable Housing Finance. “Crotona Senior Residences will provide crucial housing and supportive services to the many older LGBTQ+ New Yorkers who are in desperate need of an affordable place to live.”
SAGE is also working on bringing inclusive housing to other parts of New York: The 2015, the company launched the Ingersoll Senior Residences in Brooklyn to address the housing crisis for LGBTQ+ seniors.
As part of the national LGBTQ+ ELder Housing Initiative, senior communities are encouraged to begin providing inclusive housing, policy advocacy, consumer education, and cultural competence training for providers. These communities also receive technical support for their efforts.
