Grateful Seniors Find Peace, Welcome At Catholic Charities’ New Brooklyn Residence

Catholic Charities Brooklyn & Queens opened the Gail P. Duke Senior Residence, a 141-unit apartment building for low-income senior citizens, in Brownsville. Bishop Robert Brennan and community advocate Gail P. Duke joined in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 8 to celebrate the official opening.

Located at 350 Livonia Avenue, the $143.4 million project was constructed by the Catholic Charities Progress of Peoples Development Corporation, the nonprofit's affordable housing arm. The building features solar panels on the roof and all-electric systems for heating, cooling, and hot water.

One resident, Gerald Smith, moved into the building on Oct. 1 after previously experiencing homelessness in city shelters and on the subway. Smith expressed gratitude for the stability and hospitality provided by the new residence.