Center for Senior Services

WATCH B'nai B'rith Housing Residents Speak About their Experiences:

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For more information on the subsidized senior housing program, please email seniors@bnaibrith.org.

Senior Advocacy

A Record of Leadership

Few contemporary issues are more critical than the aging of the population. Recognizing that senior citizens remain valued members of our community,  B'nai B'rith has a leading role in senior services.

B'nai B'rith International is a leader in the Jewish community’s approach to aging issues through the B'nai B'rith Center for Senior Services. With our first housing partnership with HUD launched in 1971, and with  38 buildings in 28 communities, we are the largest national Jewish sponsor of subsidized housing in the United States.

Working with our members and supporters throughout the United States, our Senior Advocacy Initiative advances B'nai B'rith's agenda on a range of seniors' issues—including Social Security, Medicare, stem cell research, and funding for the aging services network and minimum wage—to policy makers in Washington, D.C., and across the country.

We work directly with seniors through forums and programs on issues such as aging in place, healthcare for all, identity theft, and others. 

We also send out "Action Alerts" to let people know what is going on with legislation and how they can contact elected leaders quickly and easily. 

Center for Senior Services Webinar

​B’nai B’rith’s long history with Section 202 housing started in 1971 when we formed a partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to sponsor affordable housing for low-income seniors. The B’nai B’rith Senior Housing Network in the United States comprises 38 buildings and serves about 5,000 people. B’nai B’rith International is the largest national Jewish sponsor of low-income housing for seniors in the country.  Please listen to this Senior Housing 202 webinar to learn more about the history of Section 202 affordable housing, B’nai B’rith International’s role with the program and helpful information regarding the Board of Directors, staff members and residents of the buildings. 

​Our Issues. Our Perspectives.

B'nai B'rith works in Washington, D.C., to inform elected officials how seniors feel regarding various legislation, including these key issues: 

Housing – For more than 40 years, B'nai B'rith has led in providing housing for low-income older adults. We are the largest national Jewish sponsor of subsidized housing for the elderly, and we continue to look for new ways to build new housing and preserve existing units. 

Health Care and Medicare – Healthy aging cannot begin at 65 – it requires lifelong access to affordable health care without which older adults are more likely to have multiple chronic (and expensive) health problems. B’nai B’rith actively supports responsible efforts to expand access. B’nai B’rith supports the Medicare program that currently covers those who are 65+ as well as millions of disabled adults. We support changes that are good for beneficiaries and for the program’s sustainability.
Social Security – B'nai B'rith International supports maintaining and strengthening the Social Security system as a social insurance program and we believe it is important to help older Americans safeguard their retirement savings.

B’nai B’rith has long believed that both Social Security and Medicare must be carefully examined in order to strengthen them as the social safety nets they have been for more than 70 years. As a leading provider of housing for seniors with nearly 38 properties in more than 28 communities around the world, B’nai B’rith has developed an expertise in senior services.

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Letter Urging Senators to Oppose the ADA Education and Reform Act

Along with many other organizations, B'nai B'rith International signed a letter urging United States senators to vote against the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Education and Reform Act, or H.R. 620. This piece of proposed legislation, which was already passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, would make it significantly more difficult for disabled Americans to enforce their civil rights under the ADA in places of public accommodation by requiring waiting periods for filing public injunctions with the Department of Justice. Read the full letter here.

#SaveHUD202 Rally

HUD Section 202 Rally at U.S. Capitol Features Seniors, Senators, House Member
​B’nai B’rith co-hosted, with LeadingAge, a Save HUD 202 rally, organized to call attention to the vital need for funding for Section 202 housing, which provides housing assistance for seniors of limited means. This type of housing is essential to low-income seniors who might not receive fully funded rental subsidies in the federal government’s 2018 budget. This is a direct threat to the housing needs of our most vulnerable seniors.

Photos From The
#SaveHUD202 Rally
WATCH

Photos From Senior Housing Residents Across The Country Rallying To #SaveHUD202

Our Experts, Analyzing the Issues

Senior Housing

B'nai B'rith is the largest national Jewish sponsor of federally subsidized housing for the elderly in the United States.

The B'nai B'rith Senior Housing Network in the United States consists of 38 buildings in 28 communities, encompassing more than 4,000 apartment units and serving more than 5,000 people. 

​The mission of B'nai B'rith Senior Housing is to provide seniors with 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.

We launched our senior housing program in 1968, and since 1971, in a cooperative partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, B'nai B'rith has made rental apartments available for senior citizens with limited incomes. B'nai B'rith senior housing is open to all qualified individuals as defined by HUD, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, handicap or national origin.
B'nai B'rith has also developed a variety of housing alternatives around the globe.  The organization sponsors "parents' homes" in Australia, New Zealand, and Israel; senior citizens "flatlets" in England; an apartment building and a medical residence in Vancouver, British Columbia; and apartment buildings in Toronto.  Although funded through their own national programs and tailored to meet the particular needs of the host country, these programs remain a vital component of the international B'nai B'rith Senior Housing Network.

Local B'nai B'rith volunteers and the senior service staff in the national office plan and complete all B'nai B'rith senior housing projects.
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CLICK BELOW FOR THE COMPLETE LIST OF B'NAI B'RITH SENIOR HOUSING LOCATIONS

U.S. Housing Locations

Canadian Housing Locations
What is a B'nai B'rith building?
  • Makes a difference to the Jewish community
  • Demonstrates community service by the Jewish community
  • The way people live in B'nai B'rith buildings is in accordance with B'nai B'rith values
  • "People business" not real estate business
  • Life style
  • Sense of community
  • Programs & activities provided by both B'nai B'rith members and non-members
  • Community rooms
  • Outreach – connection to the neighborhood
  • Apartments for those in need
  • Local volunteers from the community direct and govern
  • Provides B'nai B'rith presence in the community
  • Can be a focal point for the B'nai B'rith lodge's community service activities 
Quality Assurance
  • Strong by-laws that are consistent with one another and that reinforce B'nai B'rith policies
  • Look for ways to bring new people onto the boards to develop new ideas
  • Rotating boards
  • Term limits for presidents of buildings
  • Look at new technology and to the future
  • A structured relationship between BBI and the local boards as reflected in the corporate documentation
  • Small working boards
  • Make the ties between the Senior Housing Committee and the local boards stronger, which will strengthen the whole network ​
What makes a "good" B'nai B'rith building? 
  • Well managed
  • Strive for full occupancy with appropriate tenants
  • Qualified professional person to run building – can be managed independently or by a management company
  • Well maintained
    • Clean
    • Aesthetically pleasing
    • In good repair (upkeep)
    • No graffiti
    • Well furnished common areas
    • In compliance with housing quality standards
    • Security appropriate to location ​
  • In compliance with government and B'nai B'rith regulations including Section 504 (Fair Housing)​​​
  • Vendors should not have apparent or perceived conflict of interest with any member of the local board. Obviously, no board member, family members or close friends could make any money off the building.
  • ​Fiscal, physical, humane treatment of residents to live with dignity
  • Buildings run in approved business like manner that would stand up to pass BBI management audit
  • Building must operate within budgetary limitations and objectives to pass fiscal audit as required by HUD
  • Management must be familiar with HUD regulations
  • All buildings must have a Board of Directors which is responsible for good stewardship of the organization and enforcement of the by-laws.
  • By-laws should be uniformly set within B'nai B'rith language and, where appropriate, conform with all state and local laws. 

BLOG
People Helping People: The Story Of
​B'nai B'rith Senior Housing

It should be noted that the B’nai B’rith Senior Housing Network is more than “bricks and mortar” and provides so much more than just basic shelter needs. Quality housing is key to aging with dignity. Each of our buildings provides personal interaction, services, and life enhancing activities for every resident in the property. 

Our goal is to not just build an apartment building, but to create a sense of community, and a welcoming environment for all of the residents, as well as to keep them living independently in their neighborhoods for as long as possible.  ​

Rep. Grace Meng Visits B’nai B’rith Apartments; Talks With 70 Low-Income Seniors

"Section 202 is a critical housing initiative for the elderly that plays a vital role in helping to provide a safe and affordable place for low-income seniors to live. B'nai B'rith does an outstanding job in facilitating this program and it was a pleasure to see its benefits up close during my recent visit to the B'nai B'rith House in Flushing. I thank B'nai B'rith for the great tour of its facility, and I thank the organization for all the exceptional work it does on behalf of our seniors."

– U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.)
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Seniority Report Newsletter