Two affordable housing developments in Main South and in downtown Worcester are set to receive a total of $115,000 in financing from the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC).
The CEDAC recently approved $50,000 for an affordable housing residence on Kilby Street and $65,000 for the renovation of the Abby Kelley Foster House on High Street.
The money for the Kilby Street residence is going to the Main South CDC, which acquired a 100-year-old building on the street in August 2014 with plans to renovate the four-story home to create nine affordable rental units, including two accessible units reserved for homeless veterans.
“This project will complement the important revitalization taking place with the Kilby-Gardner-Hammond Revitalization project,” said Roger Herzog, CEDAC’s executive director, in a press release. “We are proud to continue to support the strong efforts of Main South CDC in their work in this neighborhood.”
The money going to Abby Kelley Foster House, more commonly known as Abby’s House, will renovate their building at 52 High St., which operates a 54-unit single room occupancy residence for women who are homeless, battered or low-income. The building also includes a thrift shop, program space, service offices, and Abby House’s Women’s Center. Abby’s House plans to replace building systems, add an elevator, and reconfigure the communal kitchen and bath facilities to improve building accessibility.
“Abby’s House has faithfully served at-risk women and children for nearly 40 years,” Herzog said. “The renovations planned for this location will enable the organization to continue to serve some of Worcester’s most vulnerable individuals for many decades to come.”