At a recent milestone gala event for Portland, Oregon based Friendly House, a speaker encapsulated the essence of the organization by noting “if there’s a need, Friendly House will find a way.” In the spirit of blazing trails to create solutions, it worked with a host of entities to accomplish a regional first. In April 2024, an array of community partners including Friendly House, Metro (the regional government authority), and Washington County celebrated the grand opening of The Opal, a 54-unit housing complex offering safe, affordable, inclusive housing with a focus on support for LGBTQ+ seniors. Friendly House’s program serving LGBTQ+ older adults, Elder Pride Services, provides ongoing resident services at The Opal, offering community building experiences, enrichment opportuni- ties, advocacy, and information/referral sources for residents. The Opal is the only affordable housing apartment complex for seniors in the Portland metropolitan area with explicit anti-discriminatory pol- icies for people who identify as LGBTQ+, and leasing includes a pref- erence granted for referrals from Friendly House Elder Pride Services. Offering a mix of one and two bedroom apartments available to seniors (55+) earning 0% and 60% of the Area Median Income. The 44,000 square-foot housing community is ideally located for older adults, with walkable access to shopping, transit, and the Cedar Mill Library. The event provided an honest portrayal of personal stories about a much-different climate to the senior LGBTQ+ community that included incredible feelings of isolation in the not-so-distant past. The Opal in- tended to break down those barriers and provide dignified transitions for seniors in the space and creating community where it did not pre- viously exist. This is the culmination of a nearly decade-long, $23.4 million project which began when Christ United Methodist Church (Christ UMC) re- solved to take tangible steps to repair relationships with the LGBTQ+ elder community. The church connected with Home First Development and offered a parcel of their own land to develop into a welcoming and inclusive housing complex with services and support specifically tailored to this intersectional community. “We recognized the challenges that LGBTQ seniors face in the commu- nity and the need for safe, affordable, inclusive housing for them,” said Christ UMC’s Reverend Paul Richards-Kuan. “Our church is committed to helping underserved populations, and we know the need for hous- ing like this is great in our region. The Opal is an expression of that part of our mission.” With consultation from Friendly House staff, Home First Development and Christ UMC have worked to ensure capacity to provide equitable services and welcoming community building opportunities for LGBTQ+ elders living in this highly anticipated housing development. The resi- dent services coordinator will facilitate access to fitness opportunities, wellness classes, lifelong learning courses, and social activities, in ad- dition to connecting residents to case management and other support services through Friendly House and a network of local and statewide service providers. Friendly House, founded by Portland’s First Presbyterian Church in 1930 as Marshall Street Community Center to provide services for indi- viduals and families impacted by the Great Depression now creates a thriving community by connecting people of all ages and backgrounds through quality educational, recreational and other life-sustaining ser- vices. More information at: www.fhpdx.org SPECTRUM OF COLOR UNVEILED IN THE OPAL FOR SENIOR LIVING
The Opal officially opened on April 11, 2024 after a decade-long process to create partnerships to build the 54-unit complex in the Cedar Mill community of Metropolitan Portland.
Regency | 18
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker