2Life Communities

2Life Communities is a nonprofit that develops, owns and operates affordable housing for older adults in and around Boston, primarily people 62 and up. Its model combines high-quality apartments with integrated health and wellness services and an active community life, aiming to counter the economic insecurity and isolation many seniors in Massachusetts face. Both income-based and market-rate rentals are offered, and residents from all backgrounds and cultures are welcome in its communities.

Since 1965, the organization has worked at the center of the affordable senior housing field, guided by Jewish values such as honoring elders, welcoming the stranger and repairing the world. Staff wear many hats, from housing developer and manager to integrated wellness coordinator, and the group also advocates nationally for a new approach to aging. Lizbeth Heyer, with the organization since 2014, now serves as president and CEO, succeeding Amy Schectman after her 16 years of leadership.

What to Know

• Heyer helped shape the development, acquisition and modernization of more than 1,000 subsidized apartments.
• The organization has also worked on innovation in middle-market housing.
• The To Life For Life fundraising campaign supports expansion of its housing and services model.
• It received an Excellence in Innovation award from the Massachusetts Council of Nonprofits in 2026.