The Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center is moving forward with a state-supported project that will add 44 units of affordable housing for veterans to North Central Massachusetts.
WINCHENDON, MA- After over five years of pre-development work, construction is underway at the former Poland and Streeter Elementary Schools in Winchendon, MA. The Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center (MVOC) intends to combine these two adjacent buildings into 44 units of affordable housing for veterans.
The Streeter and Poland re-development project is an adaptive re-use and new construction project that will transform the two vacant school buildings into one combined affordable housing complex for veterans. The interior space will also include a meeting room, clinic space, and staff offices. Throughout the exterior of this 3.8-acre site there will be 22 parking spaces, a courtyard, and recreational spaces.
Says Executive Director Dr. Stephanie Marchetti, “we’ve been hard at work with many partners throughout the state to get this project off the ground, and we’re excited the time has come to move forward. This project will add much needed and deserved housing for a vulnerable population, we’re excited to not just spearhead it but add to the 50 units of housing we already have.
Pictured: Image from the 2024 project groundbreaking
MVOC obtained the two schools for a nominal fee of $1 from the Town of Winchendon via an RFP process a handful of years ago. Since that time they’ve received approximately a dozen funding awards from the state’s OneStop application process, to include federal and state Low Income Housing Tax Credits, MassDevelopment Underutilized Property Program funds, and MassDevelopment Brownfields Remediation Funds. The state’s “OneStop” program was created several years ago to allow organizations to apply for many state grants at one. These funds were appropriated by the legislature as part of the state’s broader effort to address the housing shortage across the Commonwealth, which the new Healey-Driscoll administration has made a top priority. This combined award, coupled with a $2m award secured by Representative Jon Zlotnik in the Economic Development Bill and several other state and private awards, gave the project the funding it needs to move forward.
“We have worked tirelessly with the state, who has been a steadfast supporter throughout the many ups and downs of this project,” stated Marchetti, “as well as with a variety of other entities- to include our joint venture partner at Valley Affordable Housing, our financial consultants at Barbara Sokoloff and Associates, our project managers at Accenture, our architects at Jones Whittsett, and our construction management team at veteran-led Commodore Builders. It takes a village to build a village, and we’ve certainly got a deep roster of collaborators.”
Joe Albanese, Chairman and CEO of Commodore builders, shared “we’ve worked closely with MVOC and the design team to right-size the project and budget, and we are eager to get started. The best part of our business is building projects that strengthen communities, and there is no better cause than creating housing that supports the veterans who have served our country to preserve our freedom.” Commodore is New England’s largest veteran-owned construction firm.
Said State Representative Jon Zlotnik “I’m proud to have been part of the years long effort to secure funding for this project. MVOC and Dr. Marchetti have a proven track record providing top notch support for our veterans. I’m glad the state is able to make this important investment in our community. This means a lot for Winchendon, MVOC, and it will mean even more for those vets who are able to live there. “
Currently, the MVOC offers veterans supportive services (such as counseling, benefits advisement, counseling, and a food and clothing pantry), as well as transitional supportive housing opportunities and 20 independent apartments. This project will double their housing inventory.
Board President and MVOC Founder Cathy McWilliams stated, “As Founder of MVOC, I have seen and experienced many chapters in the ongoing growth of our organization- an organization whose goal has always and will always be assisting our veterans in living resilient and productive lives. This project is yet another very exciting chapter in the long history of MVOC, thanks to the hard work of our Executive Director Stephanie Marchetti, the State of Massachusetts and especially State Representative Jon Zlotnik. This project will provide a wonderful place for our Veterans to call home.”
The Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center has been providing housing and supportive services to veterans throughout North Central Massachusetts for over 42 years. For more information on services provided and ways to support this project, visit veterans-outreach.org.
