For Lease in Ward 7 | DC’s First LGBTQ+ Affirming Senior Housing Community
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Mary’s House for Older Adults Opens Its Doors to Provide Safe and Inclusive Housing
Photo courtesy of Mary’s House
(Washington, DC) – On Thursday, May 8 at 11 am, Mayor Muriel Bowser will join community leaders to cut the ribbon on Mary’s House for Older Adults, the first dedicated LGBTQ+ affirming communal living space for seniors in Washington, DC.
Mary’s House offers 15 affordable, apartment-style units designed specifically to support LGBTQ+ seniors through housing, health and wellness programs, and access to community services. The communal space offers a range of shared amenities for residents, including a reception area, rooftop terrace, kitchen, dining space, library, computer room, game and crafting areas, and an exercise room. Outdoor and indoor common areas are designed to foster community, connection, and well-being.
Inspired by her late father’s experience in long-term care, founder Dr. Imani Woody has dedicated more than a decade to making Mary’s House a reality for LGBTQ+ seniors. The plot of land that the housing sits on in Fort Dupont was originally the site of Dr. Woody’s childhood home, and the project is named after her mother.
Mary’s House received nearly $1 million from the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF), the District’s highest impact affordable housing tool. Mayor Bowser recently announced that her Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal will include a $100 million investment into the HPTF to support the production and preservation of affordable housing affordable housing throughout the District. In her ten years as mayor, Mayor Bowser has invested over $1.4 billion in the Housing Production Trust Fund. These historic investments in affordable housing have supported the creation of more than 15,000 affordable homes. In 2015, approximately 9.8% of DC residents lived in affordable housing; today, about 30,000 more residents live in affordable housing, or about 14% of the population.
"THE MISSION OF MARY'S HOUSE extends beyond providing housing; we strive to build welcoming communities that address affordability, accessibility, and the unique needs of LGBTQ/SGL older adults. Through health and wellness programs, connections to community services, and advocacy efforts, Mary's House For Older Adults endeavors to
ensure that all elders, regardless of identity, can enjoy fulfilling and secure lives in their golden years."