In an effort to tackle the effects of America’s ongoing affordable housing crisis on LGBTQ seniors, KFA and Leong Leong are teaming up with the Ariadne Getty Foundation on the design of a five-story apartment complex that will help meet the needs of the greater Los Angeles community.

The development will sit adjacent to the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s newly-opened Anita May Rosenstein Campus in Hollywood and will be able to provide 98 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments to those in dire need of housing. A total of 72 of the apartments will be made available through a lottery system, while the remainder will be set aside for those experiencing chronic homelessness and require assistance through municipal or countywide grant programs.

“The lack of affordable housing in this country is at an all-time high and presents even greater hardships for the LGBTQ community given the many biases which continue to exist. It’s an even greater problem amongst LGBTQ seniors,” Getty said in a statement.

Nationwide, 48% of identifying older adults have faced some form of housing discrimination over their LGBTQ status according to a 2014 study released by the Equal Rights Center. The new development will mitigate some of the demand in Los Angeles, which has been exacerbated by the city’s ever-deepening lack of housing and affordability, thanks to a $2.5 million gift from the GLAAD board member. 

“The goal of the gift has a twofold purpose,” Getty said. “The first, and most important, is that we provide housing for LGBTQ seniors. And, the second, is the AGF inspires others to donate to care for the elderly LGBTQ community who have faced so many obstacles and discrimination yet have gotten us to where we are today.”