Federation Housing broke ground in Bensalem on July 12 on its latest affordable housing community for seniors, according to a news release.
The new facility, located on Somerton Road in Trevose, will have 60 units for seniors who meet low-income requirements in Pennsylvania. Called the Daniel B. Green House, the community will allow older adults to remain near their families and Bucks County’s various shopping/retail amenities.
According to the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, Bucks County only has 31 affordable homes for every 100 low-income individuals. The median price of a home in the county is more than double the state’s median home value.
“The senior population is an important part of any community and deserves the dignity to age in place, regardless of how much money they have in the bank,” said Eric Naftulin, the executive vice president of Federation Housing. “Unfortunately, even in middle-class and wealthier communities within Bucks County, the affordable housing crisis is present and only getting worse.”
Federation Housing was founded in 1970 with the support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Though it maintains its independence, Federation Housing still partners with the Jewish Federation on various initiatives.
The organization “welcomes people of all faiths” to its senior living communities, per the news release. It houses more than 1,500 seniors in 11 facilities throughout Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. The organization offers meals, transportation, nurses, social services and programming at its various facilities.
A Federation Housing community usually comes together with government dollars and private donors, according to Naftulin. The project cost $26 million. The organization obtained $18 million from tax credits, additional financing from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and Bucks County and a construction loan from Firstrust Bank in Philadelphia.
Federation Housing, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and Richard J. Green, the owner of Firstrust Bank, also contributed funding. Green, like his father Daniel before him, is a Federation Housing board member. The new development is named for his father, the late owner of Firstrust.
“He was dedicated to Federation Housing and its mission, and I know he would feel honored to be the namesake of this new community that will provide much-needed affordable housing for seniors,” Green said.
The new development is on the same property as another Federation Housing development: the one named for Florence E. Green, Richard Green’s mother and Daniel Green’s wife.
The Greens first saw the Bensalem property after it became available to Federation Housing in 2011. They loved it, according to Naftulin. And Daniel Green agreed to cover the funding shortfall after Florence Green died. Then, when Daniel Green passed away two years ago, Naftulin and the organization decided to name the adjacent property after him.
“Having recognition of my parents’ legacies side-by-side with the Florence E. Green House and the Daniel B. Green House in Trevose is something I will forever cherish, and I’m excited to see their lasting impact on the community,” the son said.
The Trevose property initially belonged to another developer, according to Naftulin. That developer had tax credits and blueprints ready to go. But one of its consultants, a past board member of Federation Housing, told the company that Bensalem was near other Federation Housing communities.
“It’s kind of out of your area,” he said, according to Naftulin.
Federation Housing bought the property and decided to make it more upscale, per the CEO. Naftulin called Richard J. Green, who called his dad. He was interested. Then the Greens went to visit the property.
Bensalem Township also supported the project. When the second one came around in 2024, longtime Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo said he loved the first one, according to Naftulin.
“He said, ‘I can’t imagine standing in the way of project No. 2,’” the CEO said.
Robin Wiessmann, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, which organized the government funding for the project, said Federation Housing is a “best-in-class operation.”
The PA Housing Finance Agency aims to gather as much funding as possible to keep mortgages and expenses down. Then it organizes public-private partnerships with organizations such as Federation Housing.
“We want people who need affordable housing to live in areas of opportunity,” Wiessmann said. “Mixed economic communities are the most dynamic and healthy communities.”
I would like to apply for an application with the Federation Daniel in trove
I am interested in putting my application for senior living at the new home being built in Bucks County. My son lives less than 2 miles away and it will be an ideal location being so close to where he lives!
My application has been submitted and waiting for a reply.
Do you have any suggestions or advice on how get an interview with the new Daniel B. Green Senior Housing in Trevose?
Greatly appreciated and thank you for your time.