For Immediate Release: 1/7/2025 1:29 pm
WORCESTER, Mass. – The City of Worcester Executive Office of Economic Development announced Tuesday it was awarded $2 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to remediate 90 units of housing containing health related hazards.
The top priority will be remediating violations cited by building, sanitary, and fire code enforcement officials whose violations can result in an immediate threat to the life, health, and safety of the inhabitants. Potential violations include lead and asbestos violations; mold, water, and gas leaks; uneven or unsafe surfaces; fire safety violations such as missing smoke and CO alarms; unsafe open flames; inadequate pest management; and inadequate thermal protection.
“These funds will play an incredibly important role in providing healthy home-related repairs,” said City Manager Eric D. Batista. “Those repairs will save our residents money by preventing medical costs associated with emergency room visits due to home health hazards, lost days of school and work, and high utility bills related to poor energy efficiency.”
Worcester has one of the oldest housing stocks in the United States with 78% of it built before 1978 (61,488 units). Many of these properties have long suffered from deferred maintenance and need extensive work to make them healthy and safe for children, elders, and families.
“This grant provides an upstream response to the root causes of many health issues caused by Worcester’s aging undermaintained housing stock that disproportionately affects many of the city’s most vulnerable and underserved populations,” said Director of Housing Development & Healthy Homes Jim Brooks. “This grant also incorporates many of the strategic planning initiatives of the municipality including the Greater Worcester Community Health Assessment goals, the City of Worcester’s Housing Strategy, and Housing Production Plan."
The municipality will partner with Worcester Community Action Council (WCAC) to manage the outreach and application process. WCAC’s role as the local community action council serves a critical role in the city’s low- and moderate-income population and is a trusted source of information and referrals for many of the region’s programs. It is anticipated that the program will open for applications sometime in spring 2025.
For more information regarding this HUD award, please visit- HUD Awards More Than $226 Million to Protect Families from Home Health Hazards | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
