Building Housing for the ‘Missing Middle’ with Amy Schectman of 2Life

Amy Schectman, CEO of 2Life Communities, explains 2Life’s mission to provide affordable, purpose-filled aging through deeply affordable housing and advocacy, and describes Opus Newton, a continuing care retirement community for the “missing middle” who earn too much for subsidies but can’t afford luxury options. She contrasts NewBridge’s high-income model with mixed-income Brown House and explains 2Life’s “optimal aging” components: lifetime affordability, social connection, and help navigating home and healthcare systems via care navigators and varied programming. Opus Newton keeps monthly fees low through a home-sale-funded upfront fee that eliminated construction debt, resident volunteerism (10 hours/month), shared overhead with adjacent affordable Coleman House and JCC partnerships, and flexible home care through Houseworks. Amy urges earlier moves, replicating the model, expanding supply, and shifting policy messaging from “aging in place” to “aging in community,” citing improved longevity and health outcomes and reduced public costs.   Topics 01:04 Meet Amy Schectman 02:00 Three Models Compared 04:42 What Optimal Aging Needs 07:13 Care Navigators Explained 08:19 Resident Led Culture 10:37 Making Opus Affordable 13:41 Shared Campus Partnerships 15:16 Home Care Without Waste 17:17 Why Size Matters 18:21 Demand And Waiting Lists 18:48 Finding Space to Grow 19:28 Community Gives Back 20:03 Scaling the Missing Middle 21:28 Market Model Requirements 22:48 Retirement and Next Steps 23:18 Move Before You Must 25:24 Louise and Bridge Club 28:22 Advice for Boomers 28:46 Policy Supply and Messaging 30:47 Longevity Proof Points 32:40 Efficiency and Cost Savings 33:38 Lessons from the Netherlands 34:40 Long Term Care Insurance 35:20 Closing and New Site