Worcester Community Housing Resources (WCHR) presented a proposal on Sept. 30 to build four modular tiny homes for people age 55 and older who are currently or recently homeless. WCHR requested $50,000 per unit (a $200,000 total request) from the Trust Fund to close a remaining funding gap in a project WCHR said already has nearly $400,000 in private donations and other grants.

“It's 8 weeks from putting the deposit down to having 4 of these units ready to be set,” said Andy Howarth, WCHR’s development director, describing 540‑square‑foot single‑module cottages built by a local manufacturer. He said the units are factory‑built, state‑certified and will be fully handicapped accessible, with design details to resist damage from wheelchairs and to support aging-in‑place needs.

Howarth said the project sits on a City of Worcester property acquired through an RFP; WCHR said it has a developer agreement and is seeking definitive site plan approval from the planning board. The project will include on‑site services through OpenSky Community Services, and WCHR said HLC or the State Department of Public Health has committed funds for an operating reserve to support the first years of operations.

Trustees asked about sewer connection cost uncertainty, operations and parking. Howarth said a sewer connection estimate was included in contingency and that most prospective residents do not own cars; WCHR said nearby parking would be available and maintenance staff from an adjacent WCHR property would provide on‑site response.

WCHR said the model is intended to be replicable across underused lots and could speed the delivery of high‑quality, low‑cost housing compared with conventional construction. Trustees will score the application for the Oct. 22 review meeting.