An HIV/AIDS health center for women will move into a neighborhood increasingly known less for its social service agencies than for its rising population of luxury residential towers.
The $3-million, 11,000-square-foot Housing Works center, located in the basement of 57 Willoughby St., between Jay and Lawrence streets, will offer primary health care, dental care, and mental health services to Housing Works clients.
The organization’s spokesman, Ronald Abad, said he was not worried that the rising real-estate prices would ultimately push the center out of its new digs. “We have a 10-year lease so we’ll be here for quite a while,” said Abad.
The new space is designed to feel less like a medical clinic and more like a community center.
“We want this to be a special place — different from the feel of a clinic,” said Michelle Kalski, who registers clients at the new center.
In addition to helping women find housing, food, social services, and medical and mental health care, the center will offer art therapy, a Pilates gym, yoga and aerobics classes, and a small day care area.
It opened on Friday.
