OPENHOUSE

Founded in San Francisco in 1998, Openhouse enables San Francisco Bay Area lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) seniors to overcome the unique challenges they face as they age by providing housing, direct services, and community programs. Openhouse works to reduce isolation and empower LGBT seniors to improve their health, well-being and economic security.

To further our mission, Openhouse: is building 110 units of affordable and LGBT welcoming house for older adults and seniors in San Francisco; organizes housing and service clinics to provide LGBT seniors with resources and support to find affordable, stable housing and welcoming health and social services; offers hundreds of LGBT-affirming programs including health and wellness workshops, an HIV support group, yoga, meditation, monthly discussion groups, game days, arts and writing programs, cultural events, outings, and much more; provides ongoing, weekly emotional support and companionship to LGBT seniors through a volunteer Friendly Visitors program.

Openhouse has developed an innovative and comprehensive program model that addresses the four most pressing needs of San Francisco's LGBT seniors: (1) housing security, (2) access to essential social and health services, (3) support for healthy aging in community, and (4) increased LGBT-sensitivity at agencies and facilities that serve the general population of seniors. Our current programs include:
HEALTH & WELLNESS/COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. Openhouse offers a wide range of workshops, resource events, seminars, support groups, and community activities to promote healthy aging and independence, reduce and prevent isolation, and foster early access. Community engagement programs included ongoing art and writing groups, cultural outings, and engaging classes . Peer-to-peer support groups for women, men, long-term HIV/AIDS survivors, transgender women, caregivers, and those managing loss and grief foster self-help and strong social networks. In the current fiscal year to date, 712 community members have participated in these activities. In addition, through lunch programs and at many activities we provide an average of 1,360 meals a year.
INFORMATION & ASSISTANCE. A bilingual Information and Assistance Specialist responds to requests from seniors and adults with disabilities for assistance by phone, email, and in-person. This year the program has responded to 1,335 requests for assistance from 825 community members .
CASE MANAGEMENT. For seniors and adults with disabilities facing complex health and social challenges our licensed social worker provides a psychosocial assessment, care navigation and coordination, referrals, emotional support, and in-home visits. The program currently serves 59 clients.
FRIENDLY VISITORS. Trained volunteers are matched with LGBT elders at risk of isolation to provide companionship, emotional support, and linkages to services and professional staff. Currently 48 community members are matched with volunteers. A pending funding request will enable us to significantly increase the number of clients in the program.
HOUSING ASSISTANCE. The Housing Assistance Program offers workshops, resources, and one-on-one counseling to help LGBT seniors find and maintain safe and affordable housing. The program has helped 486 seniors in the current fiscal year.
TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. Openhouse trains staff, volunteers, and administrators at public and nonprofit agencies throughout the city serving older adults. In the previous fiscal year, 190 service providers and staff from 48 local age

Since its founding in 1998, Openhouse has been at the forefront in conducting and supporting research on LGBT seniors. In 2002, we completed the nation's largest and most racially-diverse LGBT senior needs assessment study. Openhouse staff and board members have extensive training and experience in serving older populations, and have authored and co-authored key studies in the field. Our co-founder, Dr. Marcy Adelman, is a recognized national leader in the area of LGBT gerontology. Openhouse staff served on the San Francisco LGBT Aging Policy Task Force, and the Openhouse Director of Programs is an active member of the California Mental Health Services Act Multicultural Coalition. Our experience in developing and delivering culturally-appropriate health and wellness programs to LGBT seniors has been recognized by the city of San Francisco, which has awarded Openhouse contracts to provide training and technical assistance, community services, information and referral, and case management services.

In fiscal year 2015-2016, Openhouse responded to 1,335 requests for information and assistance, provided housing assistance workshops and counseling to 486 seniors and older adults, matched 48 lgbt seniors with Friendly Visitor volunteers; provide case management and care navigation for 59 clients; and offered more than 50 different health, wellness, and community engagement workshops, trainings, seminars, lifelong learning classes, support groups, and social and cultural activities. Altogether, 1,443 unduplicated clients benefited from our programs and services. In fall 2016, the first phase of construction at 65 Laguna Street will be completed, along with new facilities for Openhouse, providing 40 units of affordable, lgbt-welcoming senior housing. In 2018, an adjacent building will be completed providing an additional 79 affordable housing units and two floors of activity spaces for Openhouse.