21 Affordable Apartments for Seniors Offered at Historic Gafney Home in Rochester

ROCHESTER — A ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday at the Gafney House marks the end of a long journey of restoration, remodeling and modernization, and the beginning of low-income housing for people 62 and older.

“This was an exciting project for us,” said Betsey Andrews Parker, executive director of the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County, which took ownership of the Gafney Home in 2019. “This is our first project for low-income seniors. It’s not the only one in the state, and we don’t plan on stopping there. Our focus now is on expanding.”

People moving into the Gafney residence can walk to downtown amenities. There are still some housekeeping tasks to be done, but applications are being accepted through Alliance Asset Management in Concord at alliancenh.com.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Monday, September 23, 2024 in Rochester at Gafney House, which will soon provide affordable apartments for people aged 62 and older.

Alliance spokesperson Valerie Foster-Brochu said applications will be reviewed based on income eligibility and while there is already a waiting list, she noted that not everyone who applies will meet the income criteria, so she encouraged anyone interested to apply.

How much does a Gafney Home apartment rent?

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Monday, September 23, 2024 at Gafney House in Rochester, which will soon provide affordable apartments for people aged 62 and older.

Alliance will be the property manager for Gafney Home’s 21 apartments; a mix of studios, one- and two-bedroom units with rents ranging from $1,085 to $1,350

Bob Arnold, director of development and revitalization for the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (CAPSC), said they took great care to maintain as much of the character of the magnificent mansion as possible while incorporating necessary upgrades for senior housing.

It took broad support from the community, businesses, banks and city, state and federal governments to make the renovation of the 1894 Gafney House a reality. Andrews Parker is quick to point out that the Gafney House’s rebirth was the labor of love and dedication of many people.

Betsey Andrews Parker, executive director of the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County, speaks during a celebration Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, at the Gafney House in Rochester.

“When the Gafney Home board decided to phase out assisted living, they offered us the property,” Andrews Parker said.

How to Become a Gafney Homeowner

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday at Gafney House in Rochester, which will soon offer affordable apartments for people 62 and older.

Andrews Parker said the Gafney Home board reached a critical point where the necessary renovations forced them to consider closing the home and relocating the residents. Ownership was transferred to the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County so the historic mansion could continue to provide a public service.

Funding for the Gafney House project was approved by the New Hampshire Board of Housing Commissioners.

Funding sources included low-cost housing tax credits and other federal and state funding for affordable housing in the state.

Andrews Parker said the Gafney Home project is about more than just bricks and mortar.

“This is about building a future filled with hope and opportunity for those who need it most,” she said. “Restoring this beautiful home into affordable housing has been a labor of love, filled with both challenges and triumphs. Don’t get me started on the light switches. We’ve faced obstacles, from financial hurdles to historic preservation guidelines, but with determination and collaboration, we’ve transformed this space into a home for so many. Our goal is to create a vibrant community where residents feel safe, supported and connected.”

Andrews Parker said building affordable housing is not as easy as some social media commentators make it out to be.

“Making it affordable requires multiple partners who share the vision, understand the requirements of a tax credit project and are committed to seeing the project through,” she said, naming the partners in this ambitious undertaking. Mayor Paul Callaghan commended city officials and praised city officials for working closely with CAPSC to ensure the project’s success.

A designer helps an agency that already helped her

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Monday, September 23, 2024, at Gafney House in Rochester. Christine VanBlake, owner of Home Design in Rochester, designed the three lounge spaces to inspire residents to comfortably create their own community. She said she gives back because CAPSC helped her in her time of need.

Rochester resident and owner of Home Design Christina VanBlake designed the three living rooms in the common areas downstairs, making them welcoming and comfortable.

“CAPSC and Betsy helped me through a tough time,” she said. “So when she reached out to see if I wanted to help, I jumped at the chance to give back for everything they did for me when I needed help the most.”

Representatives from the offices of Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Maggie Hassan and Congressman Chris Pappas all sent their congratulations on the project’s success.

This article was originally published on Fosters Daily Democrat: 21 Affordable Apartments for Seniors at Gafney Home in Rochester NH