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<\/a>CHW CEO Sue Reynolds, who was just honored with a Spirit of Stonewall \u201cChampion of Pride\u201d award from the San Diego Pride organization for her efforts with the project, said the new senior housing development, with its focus on affirming LGBT residents, is \u201cthe sixth such affordable community in the country.\u201d<\/p>\nReynolds said the new complex is affirming in the sense that \u201call LGBTQ residents can feel completely confident they will be welcome there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Atkins said the new housing project addresses an immediate LGBT community housing need.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs members of our community age, we want to be assured that we can live comfortably on a fixed, modest income, in secure housing and in a respectful environment,\u201d Atkins said. \u201cWe want to remain connected to our community, and benefit from health care and social services that recognize our unique needs and experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noting \u201cwe need more housing for people of all ages and backgrounds,\u201d Atkins pointed out the complexity of financing for affordable housing projects is always an issue, as is community support.<\/p>\n
\u201cFortunately, in this case, the North Park community and the adjacent El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement District were strongly supportive,\u201d Atkins said. \u201cEvery new project is a step in the right direction. Thankfully, there soon will be 76 new homes that will continue to cater to LGBT seniors and provide a supportive environment for the next phase of their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reynolds said the North Park Planning Committee was \u201cextremely supportive and welcoming\u201d about the project, as were San Diego\u2019s political leaders including Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Councilmember Todd Gloria and California State Assembly Speaker Emeritus Toni Atkins.<\/p>\n
Though the apartments will be available to all qualifying low-income seniors, CHW worked extensively with The Center throughout the planning process to ensure the community provided a safe and welcoming environment for LGBT seniors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis collaboration between Community HousingWorks and the San Diego LGBT Community Center provides much-needed housing targeted towards the large population of LGBT seniors in the area and couples it with support and services,\u201d District 3 Councilmember Todd Gloria said. \u201cMany of these folks have experienced a lifetime of rejection and prejudice. I am glad to have supported this project to provide residents a community where they can live proudly and without fear, as their authentic selves.\u201d<\/p>\n
A 2011 needs assessment led by The Center found many LGBT seniors suffered from fears of increasing social isolation, lack of access to culturally competent health and social services, and lack of access to safe, affordable and affirming housing options.<\/p>\n
The $27 million North Park LGBT-affirming seniors project was financed through several mechanisms, including Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits, city of San Diego tax-exempt bonds, and grant funds from the San Diego Housing Commission, as well as several other public and private sources.<\/p>\n
Reynolds said CHW was pleased to be \u201ca part of this trailblazing effort for the LGBTQ community.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot let low inventory and cost be barriers to housing for San Diegans,\u201d Gloria said. \u201cAs regional leaders, we owe it to our residents, especially those in our most vulnerable communities, to create more housing opportunities and increase the availability of affordable housing in our city.\u201d<\/p>\n
The roots of the new complex go back a decade to when local LGBT senior advocate William Kelly asked Dr. Delores Jacobs, CEO of The Center, if he could have some meeting space to create an ad hoc volunteer LGBT senior housing committee, consisting of local LGBT community members, to look into the matter.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs leader\/chair of that effort, Delores not only provided me the space, but she and her staff gave the committee valuable advice and guidance along the way which led to the development, funding and publishing of the Needs Assessment and Recommendations in March 2011,\u201d Kelly said.<\/p>\n
Jacobs noted the new gay senior housing complex is an effort to give back to the seniors whose struggles helped build the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur seniors \u2026 led us from the Stonewall riots, through the most devastating years of the AIDS crisis, to where we are today,\u201d Jacobs said. \u201cYet their needs as they age have too often been overlooked. These pioneers of the LGBT community deserve our respect, our support and, when necessary, our help. Providing a welcoming, supportive and affordable place for our seniors to live is a fundamental way to show our gratitude.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reynolds noted that gay seniors are an at-risk population because surveys show \u201cLGBTQ seniors are more isolated than the typical senior and are actually poorer than the typical seniors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Given that reality, Reynolds added the new North Park housing project \u201chas made a [positive] change in attitude\u201d and is a testament to all the stakeholders \u201cwho fought so hard to make it possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Construction of the project is expected to take 18 to 24 months.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis place is going to be special,\u201d Reynolds said.<\/p>\n