Mosaic Apartments, an LGBTQ+ friendly senior housing development, has officially opened its doors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The building, located on the corner of Forbes Avenue and Craft Avenue, houses 48<\/a> one and two-bedroom apartments for LGBTQ+ seniors and allies aged 65 and older. After its grand opening<\/a> on Nov. 25, 2025, Mosaic Apartments became the second LGBTQ+ senior housing development in the state and the first in Western Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n Jim Pieffer, president and CEO of Presbyterian Seniorcare Network<\/a>, said he was inspired to construct Mosaic Apartments after watching the documentary \u201cGen Silent<\/a>,\u201d which discussed housing discrimination<\/a> against LGBTQ+ seniors.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe were at a training session over at the Persad Center<\/a> in 2016, and we watched a movie called \u201cGen Silent,\u201d which talked about the dilemma of seniors unable to find resources because of their connections to the LGBTQ community,\u201d Pieffer said. \u201cThat interaction led us to the discussions about developing this [Mosaic Apartments] in Pittsburgh.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n According to Christine Bryan, communications director at the Persad Center, the organization\u2019s Older, Wiser, Leaders, Seniors<\/a> group partnered with Presbyterian throughout the development of Mosaic Apartments, providing input on the building\u2019s layout and composition.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201c[Presbyterian Seniorcare Network] really looked to the OWLS group to offer guidance on how Mosaic should be designed, so that they feel included and affirmed, should they choose to live there,\u201d Bryan said. \u201cThey got lots of input from them, as well as our therapists, because mental health is really a big part of making sure that you\u2019re feeling safe and feeling that you can be who you are in this space.\u201d<\/p>\n The apartment was originally planned for Lawrenceville, near the Persad Center\u2019s main office, according to Pieffer. However, after this deal fell through, Pitt, along with UPMC<\/a> and Dialysis Clinic Inc<\/a>., donated the site to Presbyterian Seniorcare Network in Oakland.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe University of Pittsburgh has been a long-standing partner, investor and collaborator to housing initiatives in Oakland,\u201d University spokesperson Jared Stonesifer said. \u201cWe are proud to have played a role in this project, and we are equally proud of our role and mission as an anchor and engaged institution in Oakland.\u201d<\/p>\n Pieffer said he feels this project is especially important today, given the Trump administration\u2019s removal<\/a> of diversity, equity and inclusion programs.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the current political environment, I think there\u2019s a push against diversity, equity and inclusion, so doing things like this as a high-profile nonprofit says that we care and that others should care as well,\u201d Pieffer said.\u00a0<\/p>\n