Residence For Low-Income Seniors Coming To Astoria

ASTORIA, QUEENS — More than a hundred affordable apartments are going up in Astoria to house low-income and formerly homeless seniors.

Construction kicked off this summer for the Bishop Valero Residence, a $62 million project spearheaded by the affordable housing arm of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens.

The development at 23-11 31st Rd. is slated to include 102 apartments — all earmarked for low-income seniors — plus a 200-seat community center that will offer daily hot meals, fitness classes, educational forums and social services, according to a news release.

Apartments will be subsidized under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 8 voucher program.

They are geared toward seniors making up to 60 percent of the area median income, which translates into annual earnings of $47,760 for one person, according to the city.

Thirty percent of the apartments will be set aside for formerly homeless seniors with severe mental illnesses under the city's 15/15 Supportive Housing Initiative.

"This project will provide much needed housing to low-income seniors and supportive environment for formerly homeless, and allow the residents to live safely, comfortably and independently for as long as possible," Monsignor Alfred LoPinto,CEO of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, said in a statement. "There are thousands of individuals in need of affordable housing in New York City, and we cannot build fast enough.”