B’nai B’rith Senior Housing Network Timeline
B’nai B’rith Senior Housing Network launched in 1968, and since 1971, in a cooperative partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, has made rental apartments available for senior citizens with limited incomes. We are the largest national Jewish sponsor of subsidized housing in the United States, representing 35 buildings in 27 communities that house around 5,000 residents. These senior housing properties have allowed people to age in place by providing quality, affordable housing in a secure, supportive community environment, without regard to religion, race or national origin in order to maximize their independent and dignified lifestyle.
1970s
- Martin D. Popky B’nai B’rith Apartments – Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
- Abe Cramer Apartments – Harrisburg, Pa.
- B’nai B’rith House – Reading, Pa.
- B’nai B’rith Homecrest House – Silver Spring, Md.
- B’nai B’rith Apartments – Allentown, Pa.
- Sam J. Stone B’nai B’rith Covenant Apartments – Peoria, Ill.
- Goldberg B’nai B’rith Towers – Houston, Texas
- B’nai B’rith House – Claymont, Del.
- Pasadena Interfaith Manor – Pasadena, Texas
- Covenant House – Boston, Mass.
- Levi Towers – Hot Springs, Ark.
1990s
- B’nai B’rith Covenant House – Sheboygan, Wis.
- Schenectady B’nai B’rith House – Schenectady, N.Y.
- South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House – South Orange, N.J.
- Adelstein Family Project H.O.P.E. B’nai B’rith House – Bronx, N.Y.
- B’nai B’rith Covenant House – Tucson, Ariz.
- Elmwood House – Marlton, N.J.
- B’nai B’rith Golden Years Apartments – Los Angeles, Calif.
1970s
Martin D. Popky B’nai B’rith Apartments – Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
1971 – The Martin D. Popky B’nai B’rith Apartments were the first affordable housing building that B’nai B’rith operated for seniors. The 236-unit building was the first to receive a fund reservation and is named after Marty Popky, the original president of the building, who was instrumental in pursuing the housing program on behalf of B’nai B’rith.
B’nai B’rith House – Reading, Pa.
1978 – The building was funded through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. The local B’nai B’rith lodge was instrumental in creating the building. B’nai B’rith House is comprised of 170 units and is one of the B’nai B’rith housing community’s larger properties.
B’nai B’rith Homecrest House – Silver Spring, Md.
1979 – Harry Moskowitz and Len Stein were the main forces behind the buildings. Homecrest II opened in 1985 and III opened in 1990.
Homecrest III was funded through the Maryland Shelter Housing Program and with generous contributions from the Edwards family.
B’nai B’rith Apartments – Allentown, Pa.
1979 – Neil Forgash, the first board president of the building, was influential in getting this property built. Bob Sipos was the building’s property manager, then building administrator, from the opening of the building until 2018. Allentown West opened in 1983.
Covenant House – Boston, Mass.
1982 – Franklin Simon was the building’s original board president and helped get the building funded. Given the fact that it was difficult to find vacant land in the community, the decision was made to use the air rights over the parking lot in the original structure to add additional units. Phase II was opened in 1993, and Phase III was opened in 2004. Marvin Siflinger, currently the chair of B’nai B’rith’s Center for Senior Services, previously served as the board president of the building.
B’nai B’rith Apartments – Deerfield Beach, Fla
1987 – Art Fentin, formerly on the board of B’nai B’rith House in Claymont, Delaware, moved to Florida and subsequently became the president of the board of B’nai B’rith Apartments in Deerfield Beach. Fentin was instrumental in building the second and third phases of the building. The second phase opened in 1994 and the third phase opened in 2008.
Schenectady B’nai B’rith House – Schenectady, N.Y.
1991 – Malcolm Abrams was the first board president and was instrumental in getting the building off the ground. The building is housed in proximity to the Federation campus so residents are able to avail themselves of the various services that are available.
Adelstein Family Project H.O.P.E. B’nai B’rith House – Bronx, N.Y.
1993 – Originally, Bernie Adelstein was the driving force behind the property. The building was recently recapitalized for the benefit of current and future residents. Adelstein’s children, Marty, Allan and Shery are stilled involved with the building.
B’nai B’rith Golden Years Apartments – Los Angeles, Calif.
1997 – Commitment to helping seniors runs in families. The building’s current president of the board of directors, Bruce Bleaman, is a second generation board member. His father, Milt Bleaman, was the first board president, and part of the original group that helped to develop the building.
The Coolidge at Sudbury Apartments – Sudbury, Mass.
2014 – Marvin Siflinger, the current Center for Senior Services chair, played an important role in bringing this building to life. Susan Gittleman, the director of B’nai B’rith Housing New England in Boston, was also very important to this project. In the spring of 2019, construction of a second building went underway. This building was one of the very first B’nai B’rith properties funded with the Low Income Housing Tax Credit.
