The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has just broken ground for a new construction project at Broad and Ellsworth in South Philadelphia. The site will be home to the Cascia Center, forty-six one-bedroom apartments for seniors, all fully accessible to persons with physical disabilities. The building will also include a food pantry, resident lounges, and a community room. There will be on-site access to social services to assist their elderly residents so that they may age in place.
A representative from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony reported that there have already been over one hundred inquiries about this apartment building. This development will house seniors who are in danger of being displaced in the face of rapid urban development throughout Philadelphia.
Seniors are our most vulnerable population when it come to the lack of affordable and accessible housing; so many of them living on fixed incomes. When one considers these facts, as well the 68,000-person long waiting list for affordable housing in Philadelphia, it becomes clear that more development of affordable senior housing is needed.
Senior citizens often face many challenging issues surrounding their housing. There are typically problems of affordability– while many seniors own their homes, they must continue to pay taxes and maintain them while on fixed incomes. Another common hurdle is the physical accessibility of a home for a senior who is aging in place. With age comes limits to mobility and it becomes more difficult to access medical and other services inside and outside the home.
The Cascia Center’s clear goal is to address these challenges by creating a space for both community as well as peace and reconciliation. Read more in the original article from the South Philly Review.