Best specialist care designs for Global Awards shortlisted
MELBOURNE: The shortlist for the best specialist care housing design has been declared.
Over 250 designs have been considered by the awards secretariat. One of the finalists in this category is shown above.
Carrfour Supportive Housing has broken ground on The Residences at Equality Park, a 48-unit affordable senior housing development focused on services for members of the LGBTQ+ community, at The Pride Center at Equality Park’s campus in Wilton Manors, Fla.
The Residences at Equality Park will provide permanent affordable housing for low-income senior adults, with 43 of its 48 units available to residents earning 60% or less of Broward County’s area median income ($35,400 for a one-person household) and five available to residents earning 33% or less of Broward County’s AMI ($17,700 for a one-person household). Thirty-four units will be set aside as permanent supportive housing, with on-site supportive services for seniors with disabling conditions. Rents will range from approximately $350 to $1,029, based on income.
“There’s a growing need for affordable housing in South Florida, particularly among underserved populations such as the senior LGBTQ+ community and those living with disabilities,” says Stephanie Berman, president and CEO of Carrfour Supportive Housing. “Beyond providing a place to call home, Carrfour will partner with The Pride Center to ensure that residents at The Residences at Equality Park have convenient access to community services, health care, financial planning, and social networks that combat isolation.”
Carrfour will be the project’s developer, operator, and coordinator, while The Pride Center—one of the nation’s largest nonprofit LGBTQ+ community centers—will provide social services and programming for residents, including senior support groups, wellness workshops, a speaker series, cultural events, and exercise classes. Building amenities will include a fitness center, a library, and a computer room.
The Residences at Equality Park, set to open in 2020, is one of a growing number of senior affordable housing communities built in conjunction with LGBTQ+ community centers, including communities in Los Angeles, Long Island, San Diego, Chicago, and Philadelphia. According to the Institute for Multigenerational Health, nearly half of LGBTQ seniors live with a disabling condition. Older LGBTQ adults also face unique challenges in securing housing, including bias and discrimination, according to The Equal Rights Center.
“There’s not a week that goes by when I don’t receive multiple phone calls from community members wanting to know when they can get on a waitlist,” says Robert Boo, CEO of The Pride Center. “The Pride Center started this journey seven years ago. The Residences at Equality Park is the culmination of a multiyear process of community assessment and strategic planning in which we’re responding to direct, community-requested, prioritized need. We have the opportunity to help meet this great need. Our work will decrease isolation, promote aging in place, and increase the overall quality of life for LGBTQ+ older adults in South Florida. We have many reasons to celebrate.”
The Global Award winner will be announced in December in London. (Globals)
