Los Angeles-based Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing has received a $1 million gift from the Annenberg Foundation to support the construction of Encore Hall, an affordable housing development supporting the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender older adults.

The grant will help fund construction of the $18.6 million, 104-unit facility, which is designed to house individuals of mixed incomes under an affordable housing model, with 30 percent of the units set aside for people who are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or living with HIV/AIDS. Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2005 for a summer 2006 opening. Wallis Annenberg, the foundation's vice president, has also made a contribution of over $200,000 to provide a pool for the building.

"This is a historic day for our community and for those who have worked tirelessly on its behalf," said GLEH executive director Brian Neimark. "The extraordinary generosity of Wallis Annenberg and the Annenberg Foundation sends a message of reassurance to elder gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people with lower incomes that they will not be forgotten."