Stacy Bliagos is executive director and Andrea Jerves is director of programs and development at HANAC, a nonprofit affordable housing and social services organization serving 30,000 New York City residents.
The executives reflect on the significance of Corona Senior Residence. Located in Queens, the development is home to vulnerable older adults. In 2019, it was recognized as the best green affordable multifamily housing community by the National Association of Home Builders.
Name of development:
HANAC Corona Senior Residence
Location:
New York City
Describe the development:
Bliagos: Corona Senior Residence is an eight-story development that includes a mix of 67 affordable studio and one-bedroom apartments, 21 of which are set aside for formerly homeless seniors. Additionally, the development fosters an intergenerational community with an on-site preschool administered by the New York City School Construction Authority that serves nearly 60 children.
Your role in the project:
Bliagos: Although I came to HANAC at the tail end of this construction development, as the executive director of HANAC, I oversee all areas of the organization, including social service programs, affordable housing development, and property management. This was my first affordable housing development where I witnessed firsthand how it changed the lives of the seniors that live there.
Share why this development is meaningful to you:
Bliagos: The residence is one of the largest low-income senior housing developments in the nation to meet Passive House Institute design standards, which cut energy consumption by up to 90%, resulting in lower utility bills for tenants and lower operating costs for HANAC. The building also meets the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority multifamily performance standards for Energy Star certification as well as the Enterprise Green Communities criteria. The residence was one of the first properties to receive funding under the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s Senior Affordable Rental Apartments (SARA) program and offers supportive services to residents through a HANAC Corona social worker, who is on-site every day. The social worker provides tenants with chronic disease management and prevention education, as well as community-building activities to encourage the formation of informal support networks and decrease social isolation. Residents also have the opportunity to access medical care coordination and mental health assessments. Together, these services prevent avoidable hospitalizations and boost health outcomes for all tenants. As we know, chronic disease and illness disproportionately affect low-income communities, so it’s really meaningful to see action being taken to address these inequities.
Lesson learned from this development:
Bliagos: This was HANAC’s first building where we incorporated intergenerational programming, and we have learned that there is value in different generations learning from each other and thriving together. Additionally, this was also HANAC’s first development under the SARA program, and although we were always advocates of “meeting clients where they are” versus “a one-size-fits-all approach,” this program demonstrated the importance of engaging with clients by acknowledging their current circumstances and experiences, and helping them with what they currently need.
Jerves: A stable home provides necessities like tools for hygiene, space for food, and shelter, which are crucial for maintaining the health and stability of any human being, and most of the time we take it for granted. Allowing seniors to feel safe and be able to access supportive services and case management directly on-site helps to eliminate any potential barriers.
The development fosters a sense of community and belonging, which are crucial for seniors struggling with isolation and the social stigma associated with homelessness. This sense of community is what makes the development a warm and inclusive place for its residents.
How has this development influenced your work?
Bliagos: HANAC is always striving to build more affordable housing and make it possible for seniors to live in affordable housing. This development proved to us that an affordable housing development can be both eco-friendly, reducing our organization’s carbon footprint, while also being affordable and designed to benefit various generations and making it accessible to low-income seniors to age with dignity and respect in the community they helped build.
Jerves: This development made me realize that it is crucially important to recognize that many formerly homeless individuals suffer from trauma, so we need to earn their trust step-by-step in order to motivate a positive change. This trust-building process is a key aspect of our work, and it's what allows us to make a positive impact on the lives of our residents. In addition, this project taught me that long-term funding and staff stability are crucial to ensure the success of the social service programs and the residents we are trying to help, especially individuals who can return to homelessness if they cannot get the support that they might need to remain in their new home.
