In celebration of Pride Month, we’re proud to spotlight Lavender Courtyard, an LGBTQ-friendly development of affordable homes in Sacramento, California.
In the heart of the city, the newly-opened community provides more than 50 affordable homes for seniors aged 62 and over. Offering a place of belonging, Lavender Courtyard was designed to counteract social isolation, discrimination and displacement from which too many LGBTQ+ elders suffer.
- Community. While social interaction is essential for anyone to thrive, it’s particularly acute for seniors. Through an intentional community and organized events, Lavender Courtyard fosters social engagements that promote mental and physical wellbeing among its residents.
- Acceptance. A place of community where residents can feel comfortable being themselves, Lavender Courtyard was created to embrace diversity.
- Affordability. With home prices topping $517,000, many LGBTQ+ seniors were being displaced from midtown Sacramento. But Lavender Courtyard offers rents at a substantial discount relative to nearby market and affordable properties – and includes 24 homes set aside for homeless or formerly homeless households.
Through a $10.3 million Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit) investment, Enterprise partnered with Mutual Housing California to bring Lavender Courtyard to life. Amenities include a community room, onsite laundry facilities, an outdoor courtyard – and an excellent location near transportation corridors and social services. And the property greatly improved a vacant and blighted lot near one of the oldest subdivisions in Sacramento with many stately homes.
It’s worth noting that the project wasn’t without obstacles, including bias and NIMBYism. Early on, a small group of residents campaigned against it for its proximity to an elementary school. But when it came time to vote on the project, supporters crowded into the city council chambers wearing lavender hearts on their chests and the council approved the project on a 9-0 vote.
Enterprise is proud to have partnered with Mutual Housing California to help bring a place of pride, power and belonging to the LGBTQ community in Sacramento.