In a historic milestone for Washington, DC’s LGBTQ+ community, Mayor Muriel Bowser joined community leaders on May 8 to cut the ribbon on Mary’s House for Older Adults Inc., the District’s first LGBTQ+ affirming communal living space exclusively for seniors. The opening represents a bold move toward dignity, belonging, and accessible living for LGBTQ+ elders.
Located at 401Anacostia Road Southeast DC, the space features 15 thoughtfully designed, apartment-style units created to serve LGBTQ+ elders, a group often left out of conventional senior housing plans. More than just a building, Mary’s House is a supportive community. Its rooftop terrace, shared kitchen and dining spaces, library, game and crafting rooms, and wellness areas are meant to foster connection and ensure residents can truly age with pride.
The meaning of this project runs deeper than bricks and mortar. For founder Dr. Imani Woody, Mary’s House for Older Adults is personal. Inspired by her late father’s difficult experience in long-term care and the unique challenges LGBTQ+ seniors face as they age, Dr. Woody spent more than a decade making this vision a reality. The site itself holds deep significance, it is the land where Dr. Woody’s childhood home once stood. Naming the house after her mother, Mary, Dr. Woody has created a legacy of care, belonging, and affirmation.
"LGBTQ+ seniors deserve to grow older in spaces where they are seen, celebrated, and safe," Dr. Woody has often emphasized in her advocacy. "Mary’s House is that space."
The living space also represents the District’s growing investment in equitable housing. The project received nearly $1 million from the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF), a vital resource in Mayor Bowser’s efforts to expand access to affordable homes across Washington, DC. Under her leadership, more than $1.4 billion has been dedicated to housing initiatives over the past decade, supporting the creation of over 15,000 affordable units. Mayor Bowser’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposes an additional $100 million for the HPTF, reinforcing her administration’s focus on housing stability for all residents.
For many LGBTQ+ elders, finding safe, inclusive, and reasonably priced housing can be an uphill battle. Studies show that older LGBTQ+ adults experience higher rates of discrimination, isolation, and economic hardship. Mary’s House directly confronts these barriers by offering not just shelter, but also holistic support through health services, wellness programming, and opportunities for meaningful community engagement that honor the lived experiences of its residents.
As Pride Month celebrates the diverse identities and hard-won progress of LGBTQ+ communities, Mary’s House for Older Adults stands as a shining example of what can happen when vision meets persistence and when community leaders, advocates, and public servants work together to build a future where everyone, regardless of age, orientation, or identity can truly feel at home.
To learn more about Mary’s House for Older Adults Inc., click here.