ROANOKE, Va. – According to the Blue Ridge Continuum of Care, chronic homelessness in the Roanoke region has increased by 46 percent last year. Homelessness among our seniors aged 55 and over increased 176 percent from 2015 to 2022. To address this problem, the organization, Restoration Housing, has partnered with a local church to fill a need that continues to grow. A ribbon cutting in front of Trinity United Methodist Church was held recently to culminate years of hard work. A collaboration between Restoration Housing and Trinity’s former congregation to renovate the church into 15 apartment united to house seniors who are cost-burdened.
Trinity United Methodist Church was once home to a thriving congregation for more than 120 years here in old southwest Roanoke. However, a dwindling congregation and mounting costs to renovate the building were becoming a huge problem. Ultimately, the congregation decided to merge with Greene Memorial downtown, and to turn the Trinity building over to those who know how to create a place that will fill a huge need – affordable apartment units for seniors.
“Just the data on the rising number of homeless seniors in Roanoke is really disturbing,” says Isabel Thornton, Executive Director of Restoration Housing. “We knew that this kind of building seemed to me like something that could really offer a kind of housing that was needed,” she said.
The conversion of places of worship into housing is a growing trend in the US and one that has more recently reached Roanoke… mostly because of a growing need.
There are more seniors than affordable housing options. The Council of Community Services says that’s the main cause of homelessness for Roanoke seniors. It is estimated that 55 percent of senior renters in Roanoke are cost burdened – meaning they pay at least 30 percent of their household income on rent. But it’s not just a financial burden – accessibility like single floor living and no step-entries can be difficult for our seniors to find.
Five apartment units will go on each of the three floors. Each apartment will incorporate features to address commonplace accessibility.. including full sized doorways and corridors, elevators, bathroom grab bars.. wheelchair ramps and no-step entryways. Three of the five first floor apartments will be ADA accessible for disabled seniors. The worship hall will stay as it is, once repairs to the ceiling and roof are complete, providing critical gathering spaces to address the need for social connection. Another benefit to seniors – being in a neighborhood setting in old Southwest, which also is only a few blocks from downtown, providing a living space in a nice, quiet residential community.
Creating a space that now has a new purpose- to provide a home to those who desperately need it. The rent is $900 a month including utilities but most of the residents receive rental assistance through partner organizations like Commonwealth Catholic Charities and the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Trinity Commons, as it will now be known, should be ready for people to start moving in during the Spring of 2026.
There are other projects in the works. One on Dale Avenue near the Rescue Mission, which will be another Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) project that will house formerly homeless individuals or couples.
Published February 24, 2025 on WDBJ7 by Natalie Faunce.
