Lizbeth Heyer Assumes Role of 2Life Communities President and Saul and Gitta Kurlat Chief Executive Officer

Heyer to further 2Life’s mission of creating affordable, supportive, and community-oriented senior housing that enables older adults to live a life of connection and purpose

BRIGHTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--2Life Communities has entered a new era. Lizbeth Heyer started her new role as President and Saul and Gitta Kurlat Chief Executive Officer on October 2. Heyer has been with the organization since 2014 and has shaped its growth across three fronts: real estate development, healthcare integration, and innovation in middle-market housing, including the development, acquisition, and modernization of more than 1,000 subsidized apartments. She replaces Amy Schectman, who retired after 16 years of inspiring leadership.

“Leading 2Life Communities at such a pivotal moment is an extraordinary privilege,” said Heyer. “Our organization is dedicated to empowering older adults and strengthening our communities. I look forward to building on our strong foundation alongside our incredible team, partners, and residents to create even more joyful, vibrant, inclusive, and supportive affordable housing options for seniors.”

2Life Communities serves more than 2,100 residents at 12 properties spread across seven campuses in Massachusetts. For more than 60 years, the organization has created affordable communities designed not only for safety and accessibility but for dignity and belonging. They are places where older adults can thrive, surrounded by extensive health and wellness services, engaging programs, and endless opportunities for social connection.

Heyer explained, “As the number of older adults rapidly grows, Massachusetts has the highest rate of economic insecurity among older adults in the nation, primarily due to rising housing and healthcare costs. Social isolation and loneliness can also pose significant risks to seniors' health and longevity. 2Life is addressing these challenges head on by building and operating high-quality supportive housing, and by advocating for the policy changes and public investment needed to make affordable senior housing easier to build and sustain.”

Resident advocacy will remain central to Heyer’s vision for 2Life, with older adults helping to shape conversations about everything from housing policy and development to public investment in supportive services.

“Our residents are the true experts on why aging in community — surrounded by people who know you, opportunities to connect and contribute, and support when you need it — is the best way to age,” added Heyer. “When they share their lived experiences in the halls of Congress and at the State House, their powerful voices shape policy and inspire change. I am committed to amplifying their advocacy as we work together to ensure every older adult has access to a vibrant, supportive, and affordable place to call home.”

Heyer encouraged the organization’s prioritization of a multifaceted approach to healthcare as part of its senior housing strategy. Her leadership was instrumental in the development of Opus Newton from 2Life Communities, an innovative continuing care retirement community for middle-income seniors who are often priced out of traditional senior living. 2Life recently celebrated Opus Newton’s first year of operation and 100% occupancy.

2Life Communities is experiencing a period of significant growth. Work is already under way on Solimine House in Lynn. Expected to open in fall of 2027, it will provide 150 new units of affordable housing for the city’s most financially vulnerable adults. The campus includes the Magnolia A. Contreras Day Center, a dedicated PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) center operated by Element Care. Massachusetts General Brigham’s Lynn Urgent Care and Medical Office Building is next door. About four miles from Solimine House, 2Life is also planning to convert the former Thurgood Marshall Middle School into 114 apartments for Lynn seniors as part of its planned 19 Porter Street redevelopment.

"Lizbeth has been an invaluable partner for us in Lynn, and I know she will be an exceptional President and CEO for 2Life Communities,” said Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson. “Our longstanding partnership with 2Life is helping us take meaningful steps toward addressing the pressing need for high-quality, affordable senior housing in Lynn. Lizbeth’s leadership, knowledge, collaboration, and commitment to our community are evident in projects like Solimine House and the Porter Street Redevelopment project further down the road. We are grateful for all she has done in Lynn and look forward to continuing our partnership with Lizbeth and 2Life in the years ahead."

Later this year, construction will begin on Brooke House at Olmsted Village located on 10 acres of the former Boston State Hospital site in Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood. Brooke House will include 127 affordable senior housing units, along with a community health center and child care center on the ground floor. Within the same complex, Treehouse at Olmsted Village will have 66 affordable intergenerational apartments. Both are expected to open by 2028.

“Lizbeth is a leader who reflects our values and mission,” said 2Life Communities Board Chair Laura Efron. “She has deep knowledge of the political and real estate landscape, which will empower the organization to grow and expand its reach. Her strong relationships with staff, residents, government officials, and nonprofit leaders make her an important voice in the conversation about senior housing, healthcare access, and other supportive services.”

Heyer serves on the board of the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA). Before joining 2Life, she was Associate Director of Public Housing and Rental Assistance at the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, leading initiatives to preserve and reform the state’s public housing system, expand the rental voucher program, and create the HomeBASE program that provided housing for more than 6,000 homeless families. Her prior experience also includes leading real estate efforts for the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation and working as a community organizer advancing local, state, and national efforts to preserve expiring-use subsidized housing, reflecting a long-standing commitment to social justice and universal access to affordable housing.

About 2Life Communities

2Life Communities has been at the heart of positive change in the affordable senior housing ecosystem since 1965. The nonprofit develops, manages, and advocates for high-quality, affordable housing and services that support aging in community, helping older adults and their families enjoy stability, dignity, and peace of mind. Its mission is to ensure that every older adult has the opportunity to live a full life of connection and purpose in a dynamic, supportive environment. To learn more, please visit 2LifeCommunities.org.