City and state officials, agency heads and developers celebrated Tuesday the completion of “YP Senior Residence,” a 117-unit affordable senior housing project for older Bronx residents in Morris Heights with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The $81 million project includes 37 supportive housing units for seniors who have experienced chronic homelessness and offers on-site services to promote independence and well-being.
Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia, who represents portions of Morris Heights, said that affordable housing for seniors was a top priority.
“I am proud to celebrate this housing development for the Bronx, a place where our seniors can age with dignity and independence,” Tapia said. “This is exactly the kind of investment we need to ensure every New Yorker has a safe and supportive place to call home.”
The development serves Bronxites who are 55 years old or older, and many apartments are reserved for individuals who are 62 or older, making up to 60 % of the area median income. The space was designed to prioritize socialization with both indoor and outdoor communal spaces, a rooftop terrace and a courtyard. The building also features energy-efficient design elements such as rooftop solar panels, a green roof, and Energy Star appliances as well as multiple sustainable building certifications.
As New York City’s senior population grows—and with one in eight seniors living in poverty—YP Senior Residence seeks to ease the housing affordability crisis, especially for older adults living on fixed incomes.
Funding came from a wide range of state and city sources, including the Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program, New York State’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program, the Bronx Borough President’s Office and the Bronx Delegation.
The development was led by Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY), with Robert Sanborn Development as co-developer.
“It is an honor to help reverse the growing crisis of senior homelessness and address the serious risks social isolation and loneliness can have on the health of older adults,” said Jeffrey R. Ginsburg, president and CEO, VOA-GNY.
New York State Senator Robert Jackson, who represents portions of the Bronx, including Morris Heights, said that investing in the city’s seniors was a reflection of values.
“A society is judged by how it treats its elders — and today, we take a proud step forward,” said Jackson. “The YP Senior Residence is more than brick and mortar — it is policy made personal. It is what happens when we invest in care, not neglect; in permanence, not patches. This building says to our seniors — especially those who have known homelessness — that your journey matters, your dignity matters, and their golden years will not be lived in the shadows.
