Gladys LaForge and Bonnie Matz PHOTO BY STEPHANIE LABAFF

Supporters of St. Francis Manor enjoyed An Evening at the Boulevard, hosted by Counter Culture chef/owners Anthony and Lisa Damiano, to benefit the nonprofit, which supplies critically needed housing for lower income seniors.

Attendees enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres and a dessert bar, along with an assortment of silent-auction and raffle items, music by members of the Gifford Youth Orchestra, and an exhibition match featuring four Boulevard tennis pros.

“With your help, we are able to provide very affordable rent to seniors over the age of 62. We do not just provide an apartment for seniors. We provide a sense of being part of a family,” said Bonnie Matz, St. Francis Manor executive director.

“The list of people hoping to call St. Francis Manor home continues to grow, and the need in our community surpasses the availability of affordable housing.”

Started with seed money from the St. Vincent de Paul Society in 1972, St. Francis Manor has provided safe, affordable housing to limited-income seniors for nearly 50 years. The campus on 20th Avenue currently has 116 units, a combination of studio and one-bedroom apartments.

The units are rented to residents at a cost that is less than half of the current Fair Market Rental rates. According to the St. Francis website, local rents have increased to an average of 22 percent higher than the Fair Market levels.

“We, as an organization, have planned for the next few years to build more buildings. The goal is to build three more buildings for the next 24 of our apartments. With your continued support, we are confident we can make this happen,” shared Matz.

St. Francis has been home to more than 1,500 seniors since it opened, with staff working to “make our residents feel safe and special,” said Matz. She noted that their social hall is filled with activities to keep residents involved and foster a sense of community.

For more information, visit StFrancisManor.org.

Photos by Stephanie LaBaff