Catholic Housing and Community Services (CHCS), a ministry of Catholic Charities of Philadelphia (CCoP), has begun construction on Saint Katharine Drexel Place, a new affordable housing facility for seniors in Northeast Philadelphia. The project aims to provide 48 units for independent seniors, marking the eighth such development by CHCS.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Bishop John J. McIntyre, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia who oversees CCoP, led the blessing of the site. He was joined by Heather Huot, Secretary and Executive Vice President for CCoP; Suzanne O’Grady Laurito, Director of CHCS; Gerald DeFruscio, Chief Operating Officer for Secondary Schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia; Joseph Sanginiti, President of Archbishop Ryan High School; members of the CHCS Board of Directors; local government officials; project partners; and community supporters.

Suzanne O’Grady Laurito stated, “Saint Katharine Drexel Place will provide much needed quality affordable housing as a means to stabilize and enhance the lives of the seniors who will live here. Trinity Health will partner with CHCS to provide health and medical services, and Archbishop Ryan High School, which will provide opportunities for intergenerational programming. As with all of our housing, it has been designed to reflect the innate dignity of the future residents.”

Saint Katharine Drexel Place is located at 11051 Academy Road next to Archbishop Ryan High School. The development involves renovating a former three-story friary building and adding a new three-story structure. CBP Architects designed the facility to offer safe housing for eligible seniors aged 62 or older. On-site supportive services—including case management, health care services, and recreational activities—will be provided by CHCS and its partners.

The $24 million project began construction in fall 2025 with funding from several sources including Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, City of Philadelphia, Catholic Housing and Community Services, and Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic. RBC Community Investments and BNY Mellon are supplying equity investments and construction loans. Rental subsidies from Philadelphia Housing Authority are intended to keep rents affordable.

CCoP’s senior housing program allows older adults to remain active within their communities while living in comfortable apartments across multiple locations in Philadelphia such as Saint Francis Villa in Kensington; Saint John Neumann Place I & II in South Philadelphia; Saint Rita Place also in South Philadelphia; Nativity B.V.M. Place in Port Richmond; Saint Joseph Place in Collingdale; and Father Augustus Tolton Place in Southwest Philadelphia.

A recording of the groundbreaking ceremony is available online.