We welcomed our neighbors to an Open House this week to update them on our housing plans for 50 Oriol Drive. Since the project’s approval by the Planning Board in January 2023, we have continued to update the community about our progress.

"Thank you to the community partners, local leaders and neighbors who joined us to learn more about this important development that will create much needed housing and directly address Worcester’s growing homelessness population," said Worcester Community Housing Resources Executive Director, Jennifer Schanck-Bolwell.

See the Worcester Patch’s recap of our Open House here: patch.com/massachusetts/worcester/residents-preview-worcester-hotel-conversion-chronically-homeless. To date, the public process has included:

• August 3, 2022 the City of Worcester hosted a Housing and Community Well Being Summit
• November 16, 2022 WCHR hosted a zoom public meeting on the project with over 60 attendees
• January 11, 2023 Worcester planning board approved the 50 Oriol Drive Project 
• April 18, 2023 WCHR staff went door to door in the surrounding neighborhood, and talked with over 25 residents about the project and handed out information
• May 22, 2023 WCHR hosted an open house public meeting on the project with over 35 attendees

When complete, 50 Oriol Drive will provide 90 permanent supportive apartments for adults experiencing homelessness, by converting a now underutilized hotel. There will be 57 one-bedroom units and 33 studio units, with 9 of the total units being fully accessible. Amenities will include laundry facilities, common space for residents on each floor, a fitness center and a community garden. Community safety is a top priority in the nearly 130 apartment units that we manage in Worcester. In keeping with that priority, 50 Oriol drive will feature 24/7 security.

Residents will be provided with case management and other wraparound supports as needed by our partner, Eliot Community Human Services. We are also proud to be partnered with the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, the United Way of Central Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Shelter and Housing Alliance – all are leaders in the prevention and response to homelessness in our region – both in public education and advocacy and in supportive services needed to promote long-term housing. Many partners have come together to make this project a reality for Worcester residents in need.

As the project moves forward, WCHR looks forward to continuing to provide the community with regular updates via this newsletter and on our social media. Site work is slated to begin in late 2023, and our target is to begin leasing units in early 2024.

For more details on the project, including a Q&A section, visit www.wchr.org/permanent-supportive-housing.