Harborlight House is complete, and Tuesday afternoon was a time to celebrate.
Officials from Harborlight Community Partners and the city, along with residents, gathered at 1 Monument Square to celebrate the end of the 15-month renovation at the home that provides services and support to elderly residents living on limited incomes.
Along with larger rooms, the home also features a large porch, a treatment room where residents can receive health care, a new elevator, plus an overnight room for staff in case of inclement weather.
The completion of the project last month helps the Harborlight House to continue the mission it’s had for more than 50 years — to provide supportive living for seniors in need.
“I think in every respect, it’s as elegant as we hoped it would be,” said Neil Douglas of First Baptist Church, which founded Harborlight House.
The home now has 30 rooms, 28 of which are occupied, according to Beth Brenner, Harborlight House’s property manager. There used to be 35 rooms, but some of the rooms were “really small,” she said.
“A few of the rooms got larger,” she said, adding that most had twin beds.
Andrew DeFranza, Harborlight Community Partners executive director, said the organization is “very excited” to have the renovation complete, noting the home is its oldest property.
“It’s a wonderful and unique way to provide affordable housing and supportive services in a way that helps elders age in a place and avoid long-term care facilities,” he said.
The home is not considered assisted living, DeFranza said, noting his organization no longer has a certification for that. He added that assisted living has become somewhat of a “lifestyle model” whereas Harborlight is more concerned with providing affordable housing for elders that also meets their needs.
“It’s really an affordable housing setting with a service package built on top of it,” he said.
Harborlight House, a combination of two Victorian homes, has housed seniors with limited incomes since 1963, according to the Harborlight website.
First Baptist Church purchased the home and remodeled it, turning it into a home for seniors that offered not only living quarters, but meals and other services.
It was in the 1990s that Harborlight decided it was time to renovate the home the first time.
Funding for this round of renovations came from multiple sources, including the state as well as the city’s Community Preservation Committee.
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