December 12, 2018 10:02 AM

Rochester's Trillium Health has been awarded a $20 million grant from New York state to improve its housing program. 

The grant which is the largest award in the organizations history will serve individuals who are homeless and 55 years or older, and those who are homeless and living with HIV.

The grant funding is expected to be in the form of $500,000 a year, funded in five-year increments for up to eight terms, for a total investment of $20 million over 40 years. 

As a part of the funding, Trillium Health will support rent subsidies and supportive services to program participants who will reside in 20 apartments at the proposed Union Square. 

The funding is dependent on the successful development of a mixed-use housing project at Union Square by Home Leasing. 

Home Leasing plans to build a $19.3 million LGBTQ-welcoming development that will provide 66 apartments, a pharmaceutical health emporium operated by Trillium Health, and additional space for commercial use. Twenty of the apartments will be set aside for supportive housing programs.