Senior housing options planned
DURHAM, N.C. — Village Hearth Cohousing has announced plans for the construction of an LGBT-focused senior living community located 20 minutes from the downtown district on a 15-acre wooded site.
Finding a safe place to thrive in one’s twilight years can often be challenging for those from the LGBT community. The developers are working to close that gap by creating one of the first LGBT elder communities on the East Coast. It will be the first LGBT senior cohousing community in the U.S. and will also welcome allies and friends in a supportive neighborhood of active adults choosing to age together.
The facility will be conveniently located to shopping and more. It will be open to all those who are 55-years-old and above. Its aim is to provide its residents with frequent interactions with others in a secure environment.
Cohousing is a concept brought to the U.S. in the late 1980s by architects Charles Durrett and Kathryn McCamant. It provides an inherent sense of community reminiscent of a small village. Specific to aging in community, houses tailored for seniors create easy transitions throughout each individual home and pedestrian paths diminish the need for driving. Most importantly, each individual in the community has a voice, and the neighborhood is co-created.
Village Hearth Cohousing has hired McCamant & Durrett Architects for the architectural design and CoHousing Solutions for development consulting, two companies with a strong track record of starting successful cohousing communities in the U.S.
Cohousing provides a place for people with a similar history to come together. For many LGBT individuals, this aspect is key, especially in a time when other alternatives, such as traditional senior communities, may have discriminatory practices and immediate families may be indifferent. Many LGBT seniors do not have children on whom they may rely, so creating a community of peers and friends makes perfect sense to co-founders Margaret Roesch and Pat McAulay.
“I am motivated to set this group up for success because cohousing is a real solution for the housing challenges that plague LGBT seniors,” Chuck Durrett said.
info: villagehearthcohousing.com. villagehearthcohousing@gmail.com. 561-714-8009. cohousingco.com. cohousingsolutions.com.
May bingo sets sail
RALEIGH, N.C. — May Day Getaway Bingo will be held on May 14, 7 p.m., at Holiday Inn-State Capital, 320 Hillsborough St.
The event is a fundraiser for Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolina.
During the evening, the cruise ship will depart on an adventure with Vivica C. Coxx serving as its ship directress.
Participants will be able to have a chance at winning the grand prize which is a two-night Bahamas cruise for two aboard one of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line ships. Accommodations are in an ocean-view cabin. There is a June 3 departure.
Doors open at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $30/single (available as a single seat, a two- or a four-pack option) and $240/table of eight and are available online.
info: aas-c.org.
Comedian kicks HB2
DURHAM, N.C. — Comedian and actor Joel McHale contributed proceeds from his recent show at the Durham Performing Arts Center to the LGBTQ Center of Durham as a way to counter the effects of HB2 on the community.
Center organizers said, “We are humbled by and very grateful for the gesture by Joel, to stand with us, in solidarity, and to support our community.”
Hale had considered canceling his show like other performers had been doing but decided that he would prefer making a statement instead and support a local LGBT organization.
info: lgbtqcenterofdurham.org.
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Does your organization or special interest group have events or great information to share with our readers? If so, be sure to send in your information to specialassignments@goqnotes-launch2.newspackstaging.com. In the upcoming months, we ll feature one of you in our news notes section in each issue. Are you a part of a Meetup, Yahoo or Google group and do you do something that s really newsworthy? Do you provide a service for the community or hold fundraisers for worthy causes? Do you educate the public about LGBT issues or concerns? Of course, this is only a sampling of things we are interested in. It s the aim of these pieces to inform, enlighten and educate our readers about what we re doing here in the Carolinas to champion LGBT rights, as well as offer resources for those who may be interested in what your group is doing.