Charities Preserves Senior Housing

By Linda Busetti

The preservation of 1,000 units of affordable housing for low-income seniors in the diocese was celebrated at a rededication ceremony at Bishop Boardman Apartments in Park Slope on April 30.

The rehabilitation of 10 buildings housing 1,300 seniors was announced by Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development Corporation together with Enterprise, a non-profit provider of development capital for affordable housing.

The preserved units are located in: Bishop Boardman Apartments; Sister Lucian Senior Apartments, Bushwick; Mary Star of the Sea Senior Apartments, Carroll Gardens; St. Brendan Senior Apartments, Midwood; Bishop Francis J. Mugavero Senior Apartments, Fort Greene; Holy Spirit Senior Apartments, Borough Park; Msgr. Campbell Senior Apartments, Long Island City; Msgr. Edward T. Burke Senior Apartments, Kensington; Pope John Paul II Senior Apartments, Bay Ridge; and Msgr. John P. O’Brien Senior Apartments, Borough Park.

The residences are for seniors with incomes 50%-60% below the Area Median Income (AMI).

The significance of this project was pointed out in speaking with Sister Vincent Louise Wilcox, D.C., coordinator of senior housing at Rosary House in Jackson Heights and St. Paul the Apostle Apartments in Corona. She recently admitted a lady to one residence after 12 years on a waiting list. When she has a tough day, Sister Vincent Louise takes heart from seeing the smiles on the faces of two Chinese ladies who waited 11 years. Each residence has its own waiting list, she explains.

Linda Busetti Photos 

SENIORS hold plaques commemorating the rededication of 10 Catholic Charities residences which were renovated.

She sees how living in community adds years and quality to the lives of the residents. “People move in and friendships develop,” she says, adding that even in the older years, “Your best friend may be yet to come.” But she added, “Thousands are on the waiting lists.”

Mary Assennata and Cathlina Rodriguez of Msgr. O’Brien Apartments, Borough Park, who are in their 70s, have the type of friendship of which Sister Vincent speaks. Assennata made sure to tell a visitor it was Rodriguez’ birthday.

Assennata came to live at Bishop O’Brien 19 years ago with her husband who has since passed on. “Life goes on,” she says, “You have to have a positive attitude.” Both women were looking forward to the 20th anniversary of Bishop O’Brien Apartments, where activities have included monthly Mass, birthday parties, and trips to Atlantic City. Both agreed renovations to their building are “beautiful.”

Although Yai Soon Choi, originally from Korea, said her English was not very good, there was no trouble understanding her when she said, “It is very good to live with other people.” She has been a resident of Msgr. Burke Apartments, Borough Park, for 18 years.

Cathy Ng, a native of Vietnam, has lived at Bishop Boardman Apartments for eight years. She beamed proudly as she described the “big garden” out in the back of the property where she grows string beans and cucumbers.

Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development Corporation was founded in 1975 as the housing developer of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens.

Progress of Peoples Development is a large-scale Section 202 preservation initiative on behalf of seniors. The program preserves apartments that were originally financed through the Housing and Urban Development (HUD’s) Section 202 Program. The New York City Housing Development Corporation 202 Program provides new financing at a lower interest rate. The rehabilitation project was made possible by a $170 million pooled refinancing package, which now serves as a nationwide model.

The project is part of Mayor Bloomberg’s New Housing Marketplace Plan to build and preserve 165,000 units of affordable housing in 10 years.

Refinancing allowed for renovation of existing buildings, many of which were built in the 1970s, rather than building new structures.

Physical renovations included upgraded boilers, security systems, intercoms and fire alarm systems, window replacements, renovated elevators, wheelchair accessible ramps, sidewalk repairs, new automatic entrance doors, upgraded indoor common areas such as corridors and lounges and outdoor common areas such as courtyards and landscaping, and installation of energy-efficient lighting.

In addition to renovating the buildings, Catholic Charities has been able to enhance social services. A social service coordinator at each site oversees personal care aides; meal delivery; individual counseling when needed; entitlement counseling; visiting nurse services; wellness activities; transportation; monthly library delivery; and monthly potluck meals. There are also links to Older Adult Services including senior centers, intergenerational programs and Alzheimer’s programs.

Those responsible for preserving senior housing in the diocese were on hand at the outdoor news conference at Bishop Boardman. Residents and staff of the 10 buildings sat under a white tent with cherry trees in bloom nearby. Speakers included: Sister Ellen Patricia Finn, associate executive director of Catholic Charities; Msgr. Alfred LoPinto, Vicar for Human Services, Diocese of Brooklyn; Commissioner Shaun Donovan, NYC Housing Preservation and Development; Commissioner Deborah VanAmerongen, NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal; Teresa Bainton, New York Multifamily Hub Director for Housing and Urban Development; and Mark Jahr, president of the NYC Housing Development Corporation. They were also joined by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.

Jahr called the complex financing project “something akin to a miracle.” Donovan termed it “an incredible partnership.” VanAmerongen noted that the deal was made possible by “changes in federal statutes” as well as perseverance.

Markowitz praised the efforts at preservation calling it “breathing new life into existing housing.” He said the efforts would allow the residents to “live with dignity and independence.”

Representatives from each of the 10 residences came up to receive a commemorative rededication plaque, which was blessed by Msgr. LoPinto.

Yvette Thom, a health aide, pushed 101-year-old Lena Bagnini in her wheelchair to receive the plaque for Bishop Boardman Apartments from Msgr. LoPinto.

“I love it here. It couldn’t be any better,” said Bagnini, a resident of Bishop Boardman since its founding in 1980. “Everybody is a good friend here.”

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