In the late 1990s, Marcy Adelman, a psychologist in San Francisco, foresaw a critical gap in the care for LGBTQ+ elders. Recognizing that many faced the challenge of finding a safe and discrimination-free place to age, Marcy had a dream: to build housing that would be a haven for LGBTQ+ elders, where they would not only be welcomed but honored.
Marcy and her partner, Jeanette Gurevitch, founded Openhouse, a nonprofit advocacy group, in 1998. The journey to realizing Marcy’s dream took almost two decades, with a few unexpected twists and turns. In 2004, Openhouse took a pivotal step by offering cultural awareness and sensitivity training for older adult housing and healthcare providers, establishing itself as a leader in educating service providers about the needs of the LGBTQ+ older population.
Openhouse continued to grow and evolve. In 2008, education and outreach programs were initiated in neighborhood and senior centers, laying the groundwork for the ultimate goal: providing housing. Marcy reflects, "It took a long time — almost 20 years. I didn’t know housing when I started. I learned it by 'doing it,' along with committed board members and good partnerships."
Despite facing challenges, including navigating the recession, Marcy's perseverance paid off. In 2016, the original dream materialized with the opening of 55 Laguna Street, home to 40 apartments and a service center for residents and LGBTQ+ older adults city-wide. The Openhouse campus was further expanded in 2019, adding 78 units and an activity center for older adults.
The moment of realization came for Marcy during the opening of 55 Laguna. She recounts a touching interaction with a new resident, a trans woman, who expressed that living in Openhouse was a chance to start over in a place where she felt safe and cared for. "We both cried," Marcy shares.
Marcy’s story encapsulates 50 years of commitment to creating spaces where everyone, especially LGBTQ+ older adults, can find safety, dignity, and a chance for a new beginning.