This dramatic demographic shift was addressed in October 2017 by the Mayor's Office, under the Seniors First initiative, when it announced that it would double its target for affordable senior housing to reach 30,000 senior households by 2026.

INTEGRATED COMMUNITIES
The Silver Sliver inserts itself within neighborhoods, benefiting from their existing services while contributing to their diversity. It presents a low-impact, diffused model of affordable senior housing that will offer new homes appropriate to the needs and household size of senior citizens while not displacing them from their communities.

The residents of the Silver Sliver benefit from shared facilities and services, and support each other through group activities. Generous, welcoming and flexible common areas supplement the dwelling units’ reduced dimensions, fostering a sense of community and encouraging socialization among residents.
The Silver Sliver has a reciprocal relationship with the street, allowing for views within while also setting its eyes on the street.

INTEGRATED ACCESSIBILITY
As for all common areas, individual units are designed to be fully accessible - 50% of seniors suffer some form of disability. Accessibility does not come as an afterthought, and care is taken to integrate accessible features within the unit’s design, in order to avoid the non-residential feeling often associated with features such as metal grab bars or emergency alert buttons.

The unit’s design takes into consideration the needs of its aging residents, such as higher levels of lighting, contrasting materials (for low visibility) and railing for support that continue from the common areas to within the apartments.