Low-income seniors find sanctuary at Immanuel Place in Long Beach

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Immanuel Place senior living facility is the former Immanuel Baptist Church in Long Beach.

Through a public-private partnership, the 1922 church was converted into low-income housing for seniors.

More than 400 people applied for the 25 one-bedroom apartments.

Two-thirds of the residents were formally homeless.

Now this former church is their sanctuary.

Residents are surrounded by restored stained glass windows, a community space that includes a library and a fully restored 1963 Aeolian -Skinner organ.

The Immanuel Place renovations took two years and $13.2 million to complete.

The nearly 100-year-old building has also been retrofitted with energy saving features, earning it a "Built It Green" platinum certification.