Politics & Government
Worcester Hotel May Be Converted Into Homeless Housing
The Quality Inn would provide 90 units of supportive housing as Worcester faces a rising homelessness crisis.
WORCESTER, MA — Amid a rising homelessness crisis in the city, a local nonprofit has presented plans to turn a Worcester hotel into permanent supportive housing for homeless residents.
Worcester Community Housing Resources has asked for approval from the Planning Board to convert the Oriol Drive Quality Inn into 90 units of multifamily housing, according to documents. On Wednesday, the groups behind the conversion hosted a meeting for interested residents and local elected officials.
The Lexington nonprofit Elliot Community Services would provide 24/7 security and wraparound services, like counseling, behavioral health support and substance abuse care. The building is also located close to other services, including a Spectrum Health Systems clinic along Oriol Drive, and a drug treatment facility nearby along Lincoln Street.
The Oriol Drive was previously used as a shelter for the homeless during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The plans come as local nonprofits and governments are scrambling to build housing for a growing population of homeless and extremely low income residents. The number of homeless people living in Worcester rose to nearly 500 in April, an increase of about 43 percent in one year and the highest figure in recent memory, according to city human services workers.
The Worcester Housing Authority in August began construction on a 24-unit development along Lewis Street for homeless people that will also provide support services. The project, called A Place To Live, could be complete by next summer. A Place to Live could be the first of several similar developments to be completed. There are plans for a South Middlesex Opportunity Council building along Winfield Street with 18 units, and a 21-unit tiny home village planned for a vacant parcel along Stafford Street.
The Quality Inn conversion could be up for discussion at the Worcester Planning Board as soon as Nov. 30.
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