Gloria Casarez Residence

Located in North Philadelphia, Gloria Casarez Residence is the first LGBTQ friendly permanent supportive housing project in Pennsylvania. Developed by Project HOME, and funded by The MPOWER Community Investment Partnership, the 4-story building consists of 30 units that provides housing specifically for LGBTQ young adults between the ages of 18 and 23 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness including those who may be transitioning out of the foster care system. This four-story residential building is the first in a two-phased development in the West Poplar neighborhood of North Philadelphia. It was completed in March 2019, with the second phase completed in August, 2021.

The site is well-located on a 0.65-acre parcel of land, walkable to public transit and services, and boasts a central courtyard oasis flanked by the two buildings that is a venue for community and arts programming. The site is adjacent to single-family rowhomes on the north and east sides, with scattered commercial uses nearby. Temple University’s campus is within walking distance to the site. The property is located one block from the Girard Avenue commercial corridor, a 0.6-mile walk to the Broad Street “Orange” line, and a 0.8-mile walk to the Girard Avenue station on the Market-Frankford “Blue” subway line. SEPTA bus routes and trolley lines have stops within a block of the site. Six parking spaces are provided at the northern edge of the property, with access from 8th Street. The primary residential entry point is oriented to North 8th Street.

Gloria Casarez Residence meets Enterprise Green Communities 2015 criteria, ENERGY STAR® Multifamily High Rise, and is LEED® Certified, USGBC LEED NC.