We developed Marisol in 1997, one of San Diego’s


earliest apartment communities supporting people living with HIV/AIDS, as well as participating in AIDS Walk and the Pride Festival. Our senior apartment community Alabama Manor, just blocks from The Center, supports many LGBT seniors. So collaborat- ing with The Center to create LGBT-affirming senior apartments is a natural. As a community we need to address the urgent needs noted in the March 2011 study,LGBT San Diego’s Trailblazing Generation, which confirmed the following (see below) findings in the March 2010 national study and studies in other cities. The Full reports can be found at thecentersd.org/ programs/senior-services.


The Top Four LGBT Senior Concerns Are: 1. A fear of social isolation and lack of family, com- munity and social support. 2. Inability to access to culturally-competent health- care, mental and social services. 3. Financial security. 4. Safe LGBT-affirmative and affordable housing.


Can you tell us about the building’s concept? We want to design a courtyard-oriented building


that will enhance the community. CHW’s recently- opened Kalos Apartments at 3783 Florida Street (just south of University Avenue) is representative of our sustainable urban living approach; with its Car2Go and electric car charging stations behind it. The development will primarily feature studio and one-bedroom apartments, with the objective of providing rents affordable to seniors earning just under $34,000 annually. Rents, including utilities, would range today from approximately $450 to $900 per month. The rents and incomes will always be targeted to the median income for the area.


What are the next steps? We need planning and affordable housing approv-


als from the City of San Diego. We have solicited input from the North Park Planning Group’s Urban Design and Project Review Subcommittee and are about to submit the formal application to the City and expect approval in the third-quarter of 2014. Demand for needed subsidies far outstrips supply and timing of the affordable portion of the development depends on the competitive award of low income housing tax credits and other subsidies. The earliest we could start construction would be 2016, keep checking the CHW’s website for updates. CHW will hold open house information sessions about the proposed development this month and in February, for more


sue reynolds


information check out the city of San Diego’s website, sandiego.gov/planning/community/profiles/ greaternorthpark.


Sue, is there anything more you would like to add? Dr. Delores Jacobs, The Center’s executive director,


and you, Bill, met some six or seven years ago to foster increased collaboration between community orga- nizations, individuals and businesses on such proj- ects. With guidance from The Center, you assembled and sought input from roughly three dozen com- munity organizations, including individuals, leaders and myself, to discuss LGBT senior needs. The 2010 San Diego study previously cited was a by-product, leading to collaboration between The Center and the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation (SDHDF). We all know firsthand that the journey from issue


awareness, to implementing solutions is a painfully slow process, but people listened and learned. Polite persistence, patience and nurtured community- wide collaboration bore fruit in the form of The SD- HDF’s “Aging with Dignity Initiative and Fund”, which enabled The Center to hire a full-time professional senior advocate, dramatically increasing the depth of services and number of seniors participating in programs offered. The Greater San Diego Business


information and meeting notifications, contact info@chworks.org. In short, CHW already owns the land, our collabora-


tion with The Center is strong and the initial response from the North Park community has been positive. To break ground, CHW and The Center need those competitive subsidies awards, or a substantial capital donation, as well as city cooperation, patience, creativity and community support. For general


Association (GSDBA) created the Engaging Aging Professional Development Group, a monthly group designed to provide professional development and education for members in professions aligned to serve our aging population. The Imperial Court de San Diego committed to make the needs of LGBT seniors a priority. The needs documented have made people aware, but government, community and funding support are key to implementing solutions.


SDHDFs Executive Director John Brown and Board President Drew Jack recruited you and Jeff White to co-chair a fund- raiser for programs and services addressing the needs of LGBT Seniors. How is that going? Thanks for giving me the opportunity to make a


plug! The event will support programs and services that provide opportunities for our seniors to age with dignity in safe, friendly and supportive com- munity environments. It is the 2014 SDHDF Reunion Party scheduled for Saturday, August 9. A fantastic, elegant, five-acre city estate has been donated for the venue. This will be an outdoor summer evening of friends, supporters and local elected officials to remember with dinner and drinks, silent and live auctions and special guests to be announced. Be sure to save the date. Proceeds will benefit the LGBT Senior Resource program at The Center and the Aging with Dignity Initiative at San Diego Human Dignity Foundation. Gifts of support or in-kind dona- tions are gladly welcomed, volunteers are needed and sponsorship opportunities are available. Inter- ested persons wanting to be involved can contact SDHDFs Development Associate Janelle Hickey at 619.291.3383 or email her at janelle@sdhdf.org. There is much to be positive about, but the success


and timing of forward movement depends largely on the collaboration with and support of the San Diego community. Our citizens, individuals, businesses, organizations and government officials that serve and mutually support and depend on each other are faced with decisions that need to be made. Each of us must ask what we can do to enable ourselves, loved ones and the very seniors who brought us so far in the struggle for equality to age with dignity, security in our community.


Just Think About It!


For more information regarding The Center’s programs check out Senior Services under the “Progams” title atcentersd.org. For more information regarding the GSDBA Successful Aging Professional Development Group go togsdba.org. For more information regarding the Imperial Court’s senior events go to imperialcourtsandiego.com.


JANUARY 2014 | RAGE monthly 53


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