Permanent Supportive Housing

The Oriol Drive Permanent Supportive Housing project seeks to significantly reduce Worcester’s growing homelessness problem. The City of Worcester is experiencing a housing crisis and the number of units those low-income residents can afford are at an all-time low. This has contributed to the number of persons experiencing homelessness in the City of Worcester rising. Worcester’s unhoused population has continued to grow over the past two years, with a large portion of individuals who are chronically unhoused or at great risk of homelessness.

Oriol Drive Permanent Supportive Housing will be the conversion of a former 114 room Quality Inn Hotel and Suites to individual 90-unit income restricted one bedroom and studio apartments, associated common areas, and supportive service spaces. There will be 57 one-bedroom units and 33 studio units, with 9 of the total units being fully accessible.

Amenities will include tenant laundry and common space on every floor, a fitness center, and a community garden. The building will be staffed 24/7, with overnight security. The site will have 183 surface parking spaces. It is conveniently located less than a mile from Lincoln Plaza, a shopping center providing retail, grocery, and pharmacy options. Public transportation and other municipal and health services are easily accessible from the site.

WCHR will partner with Eliot Community Human Services (Eliot) to provide outreach to unsheltered individuals and supportive services. The supportive services team will include Clinical Staff, Case Managers, and Recovery Coaches with low caseloads.

The Worcester Planning Board unanimously approved our project at their January 11th meeting.