WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester's commissioner of health and human services Mattie Castiel is sharing some startling statistics about the city and where it ranks in terms of opioid mortality and housing.

Castiel said Worcester has the highest opioid mortality rate in the state and despite a number of resources, like an opioid task force, mobile care vans and crisis intervention, the problem is not going away.

"One of the things we'd like to be working on is a day resource center for people who are homeless and suffering with addiction,” Castiel said. “Sort of a one stop place where you can access all services along with medical care, so that is something we've been thinking for a while and when we do it is actually the next question."

Castiel also said homelessness and addiction go hand in hand. Worcester has the most competitive housing market and the lowest vacancy rate in the country, at 1.7%.

"I think the thought is how do you block your pain system, how do you feel better when you're going through homelessness?” Castiel said. “And some people may start addiction being in that situation.”

However, Castiel said comparing the last nine months of police data to data from last year, it looks like overdose numbers in the city could be decreasing.