As New York City's rental market continues to strain budgets, some young professionals are finding an unlikely source of affordable housing: convents and religious residence homes run by Catholic sisters and other faith-based organizations.
With the median asking rent in New York City reaching $3,616 in the first quarter of this year, or about 20% above pre-pandemic levels, residences operated by nuns are attracting renters seeking lower costs, flexible arrangements, and a sense of community, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Monthly rents at some of the residences range from about $800 to $1,650, significantly below market rates.
Many include furnished rooms, utilities, Wi-Fi, meals, and housekeeping services. Most accept residents regardless of religious affiliation and do not require participation in religious activities.
Katie Rettig, 32, said she turned to convent housing after relocating to New York for a new job and struggling to find affordable accommodations.
She first stayed at Sacred Heart Residence in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood before moving to St. Mary's Residence on the Upper East Side, where she lived for about a year.
"I trust nuns more than I trust random people on Facebook Marketplace," Rettig said.
Sacred Heart charged about $1,650 a month, while St. Mary's costs roughly $1,200. Other options include St. Agnes Residence on the Upper West Side, where rooms start around $950 per month, and Centro Maria in the Bronx, which charges approximately $800 monthly.
The residences come with rules that differ from traditional apartment living. Some enforce curfews of 11 p.m. or midnight, prohibit alcohol, and bar male visitors from residents' rooms.
At Centro Maria, five Catholic sisters live alongside 21 residents in a four-story building. The nuns prepare breakfast each morning, clean common areas, and organize social gatherings for residents.
"I love living with the girls. They keep me young," Sister Rita said.
The sisters also play an active role in residents' daily lives. A board in the lobby tracks who is home, and the nuns stay awake until all residents have returned for the night.
"I don't go to bed if I don't know where someone is," Sister Maria de Jesus said.
Religious boarding houses have long been part of New York City's housing landscape. Many were established to provide safe housing for young people, particularly women, arriving in the city for work.
At their peak in the early 20th century, dozens operated across New York.
Many have since closed because of rising maintenance costs, shrinking religious orders, and disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those that remain often have lengthy waiting lists.
For Diana Janna Reyes Núñez, 26, Centro Maria provided affordable housing after the death of her mother left her facing financial hardship.
"Finances have been such a struggle for me," Reyes Núñez said, noting that rent includes utilities, internet service, and breakfast.
She said the support of the sisters also helped her cope with her grief.
Not all religious residences are women-only. Kolping House, a Catholic residence on Manhattan's Upper West Side, operates about 90 rooms, with separate floors for men and women and no curfew.
Walter Heckem, 63, who works as a porter in Manhattan, said the residence’s location and included dinners make it an attractive place to live.
"The location is perfect," he said.
Other faith-based housing options remain among the most affordable accommodations in Manhattan. Hannah Keziah Agustin, a 24-year-old graduate student at New York University, moved into Menno House, a Mennonite-affiliated residence in Gramercy, last year.
"It was the cheapest place I found in Manhattan," she said.