Hughes Celebrates New, Affordable Senior Housing in Overbrook

Senator Hughes attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Good Shepherd Senior, a new 55-unit senior community project offering high-quality, one-bedroom apartments for seniors. 

Sen. Hughes joined community and church leaders this week to celebrate the groundbreaking for a new 55-unit affordable senior housing community at the site for the former Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Overbrook.

“A lack of affordable housing is changing the fabric of our communities and displacing long-time residents,” Hughes said. “I’ve made it a priority to steer critical state investments toward projects that promise to allow seniors to spend their golden years in the neighborhoods they know.” – Senator Hughes

– Senator Hughes

Good Shepherd Senior

A brand new 55-unit Senior Housing Community is Coming to the 7th District

After a fire destroyed the church in 2016, church leaders worked with Pennrose LLC and the Wynnefield Overbrook Revitalization Corporation (WORC) to turn a bold idea into reality.

Sen. Hughes secured a $1 million state RACP grant for the project, part of his on-going Housing Investment Plan that has steered millions of dollars toward affordable housing efforts in the 7th District. He recently announced more than $5.9 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits for Good Shepherd and four other projects in his district to construct more than 200 units of housing.

Senator Hughes attends groundbreaking for Good Shepherd Senior, a senior community.
Senator Hughes attends groundbreaking for Good Shepherd Senior, a senior community.

In Philadelphia, more than 59,000 households are on the waiting list for affordable housing – and in Overbrook alone, nearly two-thirds of renters spend a third of their income on rent.

Scheduled to open late next year, the four story, 53,000-square-foot Good Shepherd project will offer high-quality, one-bedroom apartments for seniors available at 20 percent to 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), about $430 to $1,290 for a one-person household. The sustainable building will be designed to meet Enterprise Green Communities and Zero Energy Ready Home standards.

“This project will provide more than just a roof and walls,” Hughes said. “Church leaders are working with the WORC to provide on-site support services tailored to the needs of the seniors and the neighborhood.”

– Senator Hughes