WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester Housing Authority is sounding the alarm when it comes to funding two planned projects.

"Worcester is a city on the cusp of really needing some real, emergency solutions in order to deal with our affordable housing crisis," CEO Alex Corrales said.

Three to ten years is how long the waitlist is to get into a unit operated by the WHA.

What You Need To Know

  • The WHA said state funding is crucial to their two major projects: Curtis Apartments and Lakeside Apartments

  • CEO Alex Corrales said it comes at a crucial time, with the WHA's waitlist being between three and ten years

  • Last year, Gov. Maura Healey announced the $4 billion Affordable Homes Act, which looks to build and restore affordable units across Massachusetts

  • Corrales sid one of the projects is in phase one of building, with the other not far behind, so state funding is crucial moving forward

"There isn't anyone who's applying to the Worcester Housing Authority with the luxury of being able to wait that long," Corrales said. "They come to us because they need an apartment today. They don't need one in 10 years."

Demand is among the top reasons the WHA is moving forward on two major projects: the redevelopment of their Lakeside and Curtis apartment units. Curtis would expand from 372 units to 527. Lakeside would upgrade from 202 to 350.

Corrales said both are highly dependent on state funding. Funding the WHA is competing for against other projects in Massachusetts.

"We are the second largest city in New England," Corrales said. "We know that the eastern side of the state gets a lot of attention, but Worcester needs it."

Gov. Maura Healey has described affordable housing as her administration's top priority. Last year, she announced the launch of the Affordable Homes Act. Healey said it was developed to create or preserve units for low- and middle-income families.

The governor addressed the issue of affordability while promoting the legislation late last year.

"It's threatening our state's competitiveness," Healey said at a November 2023 press conference. "It's making it harder to attract workers and to attract employers, and fundamentally, it's putting some of our most vulnerable residents at real risk of houselessness, homelessness and moving others closer to the brink. So, we need to act."

The $4 billion Affordable Homes Act hopes to jumpstart the production of affordable units.

Corrales said a jumpstart is exactly what the WHA needs, as their waitlists contain tens of thousands of applicants.

"Worcester is feeling the same effects that Boston is feeling," Corrales said. "We have folks ready to start building now. We have the projects in place. We just don't want to be forgotten."