Boston Creates Safe Housing for LGBTQ+ Seniors

Boston shows how we can transform old buildings into safe homes for our community. The Pryde stands where William Barton Rogers Middle School once educated children in Hyde Park. Now it provides affordable housing for LGBTQ+ seniors over 62.

LGBTQ Senior Housing Inc. and Pennrose Management worked together for 9.5 years to create this special place. They kept the building's historic charm, including original chalkboards and bell systems. The Pryde now offers studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments at different income levels.

Our community members find safety they may never have experienced before. Eddie Whitman, a resident, explains how regular senior housing often has bias and hate. "This is a safe environment to be who you are. It was literally like hitting the lottery," he told reporters. Many LGBTQ+ seniors have to hide their true selves in other housing.

The Pryde offers more than just apartments. Residents enjoy a landscaped courtyard, walking track, fitness center, and even a cinema. The building includes art spaces that work with the Boston LGBTQ Museum of Art, History, and Culture. A "Portraits of Pride" photography project celebrates LGBTQ+ leaders throughout the facility.

This model is spreading to other cities. Pennrose owns similar communities in Cincinnati and plans one in Denver. Our communities can learn from Boston's example of creating inclusive housing where seniors can live as their authentic selves.