A former Eastchester convent is now a specially equipped home to people with autism

EASTCHESTER – Inside a former convent behind the Immaculate Conception Church, a new 10-unit apartment building now serves as a home for adults with autism.  

The St. Frances Cabrini Apartments at 2 Midland Ave. is an affordable housing project led by ArchCare, a health care provider of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. Located in the heart of Eastchester, it includes 10 studio apartments and shared lounge areas. 

The Rev. Anthony Sorgie, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, said the new development is a safe place that fosters both independence and a sense of community. 

“We pray this house becomes a place where individuality is celebrated,” Sorgie said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, April 9.   

Housing for people with autism meets a growing need 

The project was developed in response to the growing need for housing for adults with autism. Finding appropriate housing for adults with special needs can be challenging.  

Tenants at St. Frances Cabrini Apartments were selected through a public lottery. Of the 10 units, which have a monthly rent of $1,500, eight are designated for adults with autism, one for a general tenant, and one for the building superintendent. Leases are signed on an annual basis, with no restriction on the number of renewals. Currently about 100 people are on the waitlist.

Donna Maxon, a parent advocate who helped facilitate the project, said most tenants are from Westchester, with one from Putnam. All of them moved in in March. Some walk to work at a nearby Walgreens, while some hold remote jobs.

"When you live nearby, you have community connections and jobs and families to help you," Maxon explained why they prioritize local applicants.

For many residents, this is their first time living independently. Some were initially nervous, but the building’s proximity to the church they grew up attending, new friendships formed within the building, and autism-friendly design features have helped them and their families feel at ease.  

Thomas Baker, a 22-year-old graduate of Eastchester High School and the youngest resident, said he enjoys watching Minecraft movies with his new friends. 

His mother, Theresa Baker, said she feels at peace knowing her son is in a secure environment equipped with personalized safety features. 

In Baker’s unit, verbal reminders play when he leaves his apartment, prompting him to bring his phone and wallet. A safety button near the door allows him to notify family members of any issues from emergencies to unfamiliar visitors. Additional safeguards include sensors that detect flooding or an unattended stovetop.

To enhance nighttime safety, a door sensor sends text alerts to family members if the door is opened between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. 

“Unexpected situations create anxiety for people with autism,” Theresa Baker said. “They may not always know the next steps. The reminders and text alerts give so much comfort to the tenants and their parents because they know there’s extra support.” 

Transforming an Eastchester convent to housing

The idea of converting an underutilized convent into housing for adults with autism was born in 2019. A group of parent advocates approached the archdiocese with the idea.  

With the archdiocese’s support, a fundraising campaign was launched to cover the $7 million project. 

While preserving the aesthetics of the nearly 100-year-old building, renovations began in 2022 to bring the interior up to modern building codes and standards for independent living. 

The building originally housed 15 Franciscan Sisters, who arrived in 1928 and taught at the adjacent elementary school. Over the years, the numbers of sisters declined and the last two moved out in 2012. 

The building was later damaged by flooding. When Sorgie became pastor, he backed the idea of repurposing the space for an underserved population.  

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, visited the tenants on April 9, a week before Easter, to say the project symbolizes resurrection, new life and hope.  

“For a long time, I’ve heard parents of children with autism say they’re concerned," Dolan said. "Their adult children want autonomy and independence but they don’t know where to go. So I said maybe the church can help."

The St. Frances Cabrini Apartments is the archdiocese’s second apartment project for people with autism. The first one opened on Staten Island in January 2020.     

Helu Wang covers economic growth and real estate for The Journal News/lohud and USA Today Network. Reach her at hwang@gannett.com.