The building isn’t open yet. The wait list already has 100 names on it.
The Liberty at Pompton Lakes an affordable housing development for seniors and veterans 65 and older in Pompton Lakes is on track to open this fall— and the demand was apparent long before the first unit was finished.
More on Christian Health
- Christian Health figured out what others missed: For seniors, aging and mental health are the same fight
- For Christian Health, affordable housing isn’t a real estate play. It’s a health strategy
The project is a partnership between Christian Health and Passaic County. Christian Health is managing the facility, which has been under construction for about a year. The target opening is this fall.
There are 64 units. Steve Dumke, CEO of Christian Health, said 100 people have already signed up.
“We opened up the wait list,” he said.
The population it serves — seniors and veterans 65 and older — sits at the intersection of two of the most pressing care challenges in New Jersey: the shortage of affordable senior housing and the ongoing need for services tailored to the specific physical and mental health needs of older veterans.
Christian Health, which serves more than 1,000 people daily across North Jersey through a combination of behavioral health, senior services and affordable housing, has been expanding its housing portfolio as a deliberate extension of its care mission.
The Pompton Lakes development is part of that broader strategy — and one of the most concrete examples of the demand it is trying to meet.
And because the facility is geared toward veterans, it is especially important to Dumke and Christian Health.
“Housing and community are critical parts of health and well-being, especially for older adults,” Dumke said. “For veterans who have given so much, creating a safe and supportive place to live is one meaningful way we can honor their sacrifice and give back.”
Passaic County Commissioner Director, Sandi Lazzara agrees.
“The Liberty at Pompton Lakes is more than a building, it is a promise kept.” said Lazzara.
“A promise to the seniors who built this community and the veterans who sacrificed to protect it, that Passaic County will never forget them. Every unit in this development represents a real person, a real family, a real story and we are proud to have fought to make this a reality.
“When I think about a veteran finally having a safe, dignified, affordable place to call home right here in the county they served, that means everything to me. That is why we do this work.”
